DISEASES OF SWINE 435 



Symptoms. These generally come on very suddenly. The hog 

 shows symptoms of excitement and sensitiveness, or appears dull and 

 drowsy. Death may occur in a short time. Apoplexy due to rupture 

 of capillaries in the brain sometimes occurs, and the disease tends to 

 merge into an inflammation of the brain. 



Treatment. Place the hog in a cool place and apply water or 

 ice to the head. Bleeding at the beginning may be followed by good 

 results. As a purgative, four or five ounces of linseed or castor oil 

 can be given. The after treatment consists in keeping the hog quiet 

 and in a cool comfortable place. In anemia of the brain, the medic- 

 inal treatment is along the line of stimulants, and cold applications 

 to the head are contra-indicated. (Ind. B. 100.) 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIX. 



Causes. As causes of this disease can be mentioned high tem- 

 perature as in summer, unusual exercise, sudden changes in the feed, 

 overfeeding, parasites (cysticercus), unsanitary conditions and in- 

 juries to the head. Inflammation of the brain occurs in some in- 

 fectious diseases. It may follow a congestion of the brain. 



Symptoms. They usually set in abruptly, the hog apparently 

 in perfect health will within a few hours manifest serious symptoms 

 of a nervous character. The disease is usually ushered in by a period 

 of dullness. In some cases, however, the hog appears nervous and 

 excited from the first. During the period of excitement or delirium, 

 the hog champs its teeth, froths at the mouth, w r alks or runs about 

 the pen, generally in a circle and without showing much ability to 

 dodge obstructions. It will squeal or 'grunt, try to climb up on the 

 sides of the pen, press its head against the wall or fence, and finally 

 fall over in a convulsion. It may regain its feet in a short time or lie 

 in a stupor which usually ends in death. The gravity of the disease 

 cannot always be judged by the frequency and violence of the attacks, 

 as often when the hog is sleepy and drowsy from the first, it rapidly 

 proves fatal. The course is usually short and the prognosis unfavor- 

 able. 



Treatment. A large dose of salts should be given early in the 

 attack. Bleeding and cold applications to the head prove of some 

 value by lessening blood pressure in the brain. The pen should be 

 dark and cool. When the disease terminates in paralysis, iodide of 

 potassium, twenty grains, and tincture of nux vomica, ten or twenty 

 drops, can be given in a few ounces of water three times a day. 

 (Ind. B. 100.) 



APOPLEXY. 



Apoplexy may occur in hogs that are in a very fat condition 

 and is due to a rupture of a bloodvessel in the brain. It sometimes 

 happens as a result of congestion of the brain. When this accident 

 occurs, the hog drops suddenly, becomes unconscious and is usually 

 dead in a short time. (Ind. B. 100.) 



BLIND STAGGERS. 



Vertigo may be associated with diseases of the brain and its 

 membranes, such as anemia, congestion, tumors and parasites (cys- 

 ticercus), especially the latter. 



