DISEASES OF SWINE 423 



about. When the symptoms set in soon after birth, the disease is 

 more apt to prove fatal than if the pigs are several weeks old. 



Treatment. Scours being a disease due largely to bad dietics 

 and hygiene, the preventive treatment is of more importance than 

 the medicinal. This consists in correcting errors in feeding and 

 care. At the time of farrowing the sow should be fed a light, easily 

 digested ration, the pen kept clean and dry and the pigs allowed 

 plenty of exercise and pure air. If the scours are due to a feverish 

 condition of the mother or to irritating food, she should be given 

 two or three ounces of castor oil. To check the scours in the pigs, 

 a few drops of laudanum can be placed on the tongue, or a large 

 dose (from one-half to one tablespoon ful) administered to the sow. 

 This should be repeated if necessary. (Ind. B. 100.) 



DIARRHEA, SCOURS, DYSENTERY. 



Causes. Sudden changes in the feed, especially to green feed 

 will frequently cause it. Diarrhea may occur as a symptom in 

 inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract. 



Symptoms. Diarrhea in hogs 1 is characterized by frequent 

 and rather fluid evacuations. 



Treatment. When scours occurs as a symptom of disease, the 

 cause must be removed before we can hope to treat it successfully. 

 In all cases it is best to give a cathartic; castor oil (one to three 

 ounces) or calomel (one to ten grains.) This should be followed 

 by laudanum (half a tablespoonful), prepared chalk (one-half to 

 one tablespoonful) or nitrate of bismuth (one teaspoonful). When 

 any one of these drugs is used, the dose should be repeated as often 

 as necessary. (Ind. B. 100.) 



CONSTIPATION. 



Inactivity of the bowels most often gives trouble in pregnant 

 sows and other adult hogs when given too little exercise and too 

 much rich food. In such animals the liver is torpid, the system 

 feverish and the muscles and other organs overloaded with fat. A 

 brood sow in such a condition, and troubled with constipation, will 

 be likely to have weak, puny, or dead pigs, or require help with in- 

 struments at farrowing time. Constipation seldom troubles where 

 hogs are fed laxative foods, such as bran, flax seed meal, roots or 

 alfalfa, during the winter season, and in addition are made to take 

 abundant outdoor exercise. Such foods and exercise are most nec- 

 essary for pregnant sows and usually will obviate the need of medi- 

 cines. Where such simple means fail, recourse may be had to lax- 

 atives. The simplest treatment is to mix two to four ounces of raw 

 linseed oil once daily in the slop for an adult sow, or hog, or where 

 more active treatment seems necessary, give four ounces of Epsom 

 salts at one dase in the same way. (Wis. B. 184.) 



Causes. Constipation is caused by dry feed, lack of water, 

 fever, paralysis, or it may occur as a symptom of inflammation of 

 the intestines. 



Symptoms. This is the opposite condition from diarrhea. 



Treatment. This consists in giving a cathartic of castor or 

 linseed oil. Epsom salts may also be given. The action of the 



