420 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



especially if deficient in alkaline and earthy salts, lack of exercise, 

 digestive disorders and a nervous condition may cause it. 



Symptoms. The hog shows an inclination to eat all sorts of 

 indigestible substances, earth, sand, feces, bristles, rotten wood, etc. 

 Sometimes they are quarrelsome and may attack one of their num- 

 ber and kill it. Sows will eat their young, usually at the time of 

 birth. When thus affected they do not thrive as they should and 

 may become quite thin. 



Treatment. The treatment is chiefly preventive, and consists 

 in supplying to the ration whatever elements are wanting. The 

 addition of charcoal, salt, wood ashes, etc., sometimes answer the 

 purpose well when the other ingredients seem to be about right. 

 When the affection is due to chronic indigestion, they should be 

 given the proper treatment. (Ind. B. 100.) 



ACUTE INDIGESTION. 



Causes. Overloading the stomach and spoiled foods, especially 

 putrid swill, are common causes of indigestion. Alkaline washing 

 powders and soaps irritate the stomach and intestines and may 

 bring about this condition. Poor care, exposure and intestinal 

 worms may also cause it. 



Symptoms. The hog refuses food, is generally restless and 

 may have colicy pains. It usually wanders off by itself, acts dull, 

 grunts, lies down in a quiet place or stands with the back arched 

 and abdomen held tense. It seems to like to hide itself in the bed- 

 ding, litter around the manure heap or straw stack, and in the 

 grass or weeds. When vomiting occurs early in the attack, recovery 

 usually takes place in a short time. Sometimes the animal has a 

 diarrhea. The body temperature may be higher than normal. 



Treatment. Feeds that will irritate the stomach or intestines 

 should be avoided. It is desirable to induce vomiting as soon as 

 possible by giving an emetic of ipecacuan, (twenty or thirty grains 

 in a little warm water). This can be followed by two or three 

 ounces of castor oil. The hog should be kept in the pen and fed 

 on easily digested ration. (Ind. B. 100.) 



CHRONIC INDIGESTION. 



Causes. When the causes of acute indigestion act for some 

 time either in an intermittent or continuous manner, it will ter- 

 minate in the chronic form. 



Symptoms. In the beginning these may be the same as in the 

 acute form. The hog presents an unthrifty appearance and may 

 become quite thin. Pigs grow slowly and may become badly 

 stunted. We may observe constipation and diarrhea alternating. 



Treatment. Clean quarters and a well balanced, easily di- 

 gested ration should be provided. The hog should have access to 

 plenty of common salt and charcoal. As a tonic the following mix- 

 ture can be given in the feed: bicarbonate of soda (two ounces), 

 powdered gentian (three drams), sulphate of soda, (three ounces). 

 The dose is about one teaspoon ful twice daily. To check the diar- 

 rhea, give nitrate of bismuth in dram or half dram doses. If con- 



