DISEASES OF SWINE 421 



stipated, a cathartic of calomel (ten to twenty grains) will give 

 relief. (Ind. B. 100.) 



INFLAMMATION OF STOMACH AND INTESTINES. 



Inflammation of the stomach cannot be readily distinguished 

 from that of the intestines and vice versa. Frequently both are 

 inflamed at the same time. It is therefore more convenient to dis- 

 cuss both under this head. 



Causes. This disease is largely due to unhygienic conditions. 

 Some people seem to think that a hog can eat anything and take 

 poison with impunity, and as a result, it frequently suffers from 

 ignorant practice in the feeding, . care, and giving of drugs. The 

 causes of gastro-enteritis are much the same as in indigestion, only 

 they act more intensely. We must especially mention dirty, filthy 

 yards and pens, decomposed and over-kept foods. When hogs are 

 kept in filthy quarters, the snout and food become soiled with all 

 sorts of microbes. These enter the digestive tract along with the 

 food, irritate the lining membrane and pave the way for those 

 germs that would otherwise prove harmless. Toxic or poisonous 

 substances, as salt brine, washing powders, dish water, etc.. that are 

 frequently found in the swill, may cause it. 



Symptoms. The animal shows evidence of severe abdominal 

 pain. The back is arched, ears droop and the abdomen is tucked 

 up. When the abdomen is pressed on, it will cause the hog to flinch 

 with pain. Pain is manifested by grunting, squealing, restlessness, 

 champing and grinding of the teeth. The body temperature is ele- 

 vated. If the offending matter is fermentive or obstructive, there is 

 bloating. When the stomach is involved, vomiting is a prominent 

 symptom. The inflammation at first causes an intense thirst, and the 

 bowels are constipated. Later a diarrhea is present. The hog be- 

 comes very dull and weak, and is generally seen lying down in a bed 

 that it has rooted for itself in the litter. There is no rule as to the 

 duration of the disease. It may last but a short time or continue for 

 a week or more. 



Lesions. The post mortem appearance is a congested and in- 

 flamed condition of the mucous membrane lining the intestines, 

 sometimes involving the deeper layers of the wall and the peri- 

 toneum; the contents are mucous and flakey in character. The 

 lymphatic glands are reddened and thickened, and if the inflam- 

 matory changes are due to a slow infection there may be small 

 pouch like (follicular) ulcers in the mucous membrane. 



Treatment. The hog should be kept in clean quarters. If 

 vomiting has not occurred, the offensive material should be gotten 

 rid of by giving an emetic of ipecacuan (twenty or thirty grains 

 in a little warm water). This can be followed by a laxative of 

 castor oil, one or two ounces, or calomel in from ten to thirty grain 

 doses can be given. To relieve the pain a teaspoonful of laudanum 

 in about the same amount of linseed oil can be given. Rectal in- 

 jections of soapsuds may be necessary to relieve the constipation. 

 If diarrhea is a symptom of the disease, nitrate of bismuth in dram 

 or half dram doses can be given two or three times a day. As a 



