DISEASES OF SWINE 495 



cough at first is weak but soon becomes loud and is attended with 

 considerable effort. It comes on in paroxysms and then there is a 

 longer or shorter interval of quietude. The coughing spells are 

 almost certain to occur when the pigs first stir about and when they 

 take their meals. If the quarters are clean and the weather pleas- 

 ant, the coughing is about the only symptom observable. The ap- 

 petite remains good and the fever is not high. If the weather be- 

 comes cold, wet or stormy, the paroxysms of coughing come closer 

 together, sometimes amounting to almost continuous coughing. 

 There will be marked difficulty in breathing, loss of appetite and 

 fever. The other symptoms of illness are rough coat, stiffness, and 

 weakness. Under such conditions there will be a considerable loss 

 of the weaker pigs in the litter and especially of those under eight 

 weeks of age. 



The disease may be confused with swine plague or hog cholera. 

 It can be differentiated from the plague from the fact that the 

 latter disease attacks older hogs and the death rate is highest in old 

 hogs. It can be distinguished from cholera by the fact that there 

 is little bowel disturbance and much lower death rate. 



Post Mortem. A post mortem examination reveals clearly 

 defined red patches spread over the lungs. They are most numer- 

 ous along the edges, particularly along the lower edge of the an- 

 terior lobes. On section they show a uniform red color or dirty, 

 rusty grey. They are more solid than normal tissues. There will be 

 more or less frothy mucus in the diseased areas and the bronchi are 

 injected with blood. The lung tissue is firm and dry. The lung 

 pleura over the affected area is diseased but that opposite on the costal 

 pleura is seldom involved. The heart and pericardium remain nor- 

 mal unless the lung is affected in the immediate vicinity. The 

 bronchial glands show enlargement. The abdominal viscera remain 

 normal. 



Treatment. As far as possible, the treatment should be pre- 

 ventive. Pigs that are coughing should not be turned into lots 

 with pigs that appear healthy. Should the disease break out in a 

 litter, the whole litter should be removed from the piggery, the 

 bedding burned and the pen white-washed. The pigs should not 

 be allowed on the range used by other pigs. The treatment of 

 the disease itself consists in securing dry, clean quarters, as little 

 exposure as possible, rich but not bulky food, and trust that age 

 will help give resistance. The administration of creolin or coal 

 tar creosote preparations at the rate of a teasDOonful to the hun- 

 dred pounds of weight has a good effect. It is best given mixed 

 with the milk. (Ind. B. 100.) 



INFECTIOUS SORE MOUTH. 



Causes. This disease is common in pigs from a few days to 

 several weeks of age and is infectious in character. No specific 

 germ, however, has been found. Dusty, dirty or muddy quarters 

 are among the predisposing causes. Under such conditions the 

 sow's udder is exposed to dust and dirt and acts as a carrier of dis- 



