DISEASES OF, SWINE 455 



washing them with water it will be found that these bloody areas can 

 not be removed. There is no other characteristic lesion of the outer 

 surface of the small intestine. The inner lining, however, may at 

 times, in cases of hog cholera, be congested and inflamed, so that the 

 normal wrinkled inner surface is greatly thickened and covered with 

 a yellowish exudate or coating, or it may be dotted with small bloody 

 spots like those seen on the outer surface of the intestine. 



Large Intestines. The large intestine differs markedly from the 

 small intestine in general appearance, being larger in circumference 

 and of more uneven surface. The appearance of the large and small 

 intestines in health and their relative positions in the body are 

 easily distinguished. In cases of hog cholera the outer surface of the 

 large intestine may show the same hemorrhagic spots that have been 

 mentioned as occurring on the small intestine, but it is the inner 

 lining that shows the most important changes. (F. B. 379.) 



An autopsy in all forms of hog cholera may be necessary to 

 fully establish the cause of death. Besides the skin showing red or 

 purple blotches, the fat under the skin may show red bloody spots, 

 usually very small, which cannot be washed off with water. Quite 

 frequently portions of the lobes of the lungs may be collapsed, re- 

 sembling the liver in appearance and touch. In acute cases small red 

 spots due to rupture of the small blood vessels in the lungs appear, 

 and when found are a sure indication of hog cholera. The -lung 

 consolidation is not as characteristic a symptom as the small red 

 spots. 



In acute forms small bloody spots may be found on the surface 

 of the heart similar to those in the lungs. The liver does not usually 

 show any marked change from normal conditions. The spleen, as 

 viewed in autopsy, in acute cases, is quite large, dark and soft. In 

 prolonged chronic cases it may be smaller than normal and grayish 

 in color. The kidneys usually appear spotted with very small red 

 speckles, resembling turkey eggs in appearance, and is considered the 

 most characteristic of hog cholera symptoms. The mucous mem- 

 brane of the stomach is red and inflamed, and a careful examination 

 will generally show ulceration extending over considerable area, 

 separated from healthy portions by a more or less distinct line. The 

 intestines in acute cases show inflammation and are frequently blood 

 stained. In the slow chronic forms of hog cholera, ulceration of the 

 inner surface of the large and small intestines is found. Especially 

 is this true along the inner surface of the large intestine where but- 

 ton-shaped ulcers varying in size from mere specks to that of a 25- 

 cent piece are to be found. These spots are yellowish in color with 

 dark centers raised above the surrounding healthy tissue. The pres- 

 ence of these ulcers is a positive diagnosis of hog cholera, though in 

 many acute cases they do not have time to develop. (N. J. L. S. 

 C. Cir. 1.) 



Care should be taken to prevent blood poisoning of the operator 

 as a result of the post-mortem of any animal. If a person has any 

 sore on his hand he should not touch a dead animal, or if he should 

 receive a cut or scratch during the examination the hand should be 



