DISEASES OF SWINE 499 



in. In large wounds we must try to bring about the formation of a 

 healthy granulating surface as soon as possible. If necrotic or dead 

 tissue forms in the wound, it must be removed and a healthy sur- 

 face promoted by the use of antiseptic dressings. In cases of local 

 septicaemia, this is all the treatment necessary. When the disease 

 is generalized, the treatment is usually hopeless. Alcohol, salicylate 

 of soda, and quinine are the drugs usually given in these cases. 

 Plenty of clean water should be allowed. The animal should be 

 coaxed to eat easily digested and highly nutritious food in order to 

 prevent its becoming weak. (Ind. B. 100.) 



INFECTIOUS ARTERITIS. 



Causes. This disease occurs in pigs a few days old, and is 

 caused by septic germs that enter the system by way of the navel 

 or umbilicus. Filth and dirty pens are among the predisposing 

 causes. If the disease has once occurred in a pen, it is very apt to 

 recur from year to year. Sometimes it assumes the proportion of 

 a local epidemic and causes very heavy losses in a neighborhood. 



Symptom*. The pig becomes very weak, refuses to suckle, is 

 feverish and usually has a diarrhea. The affected joints are swollen 

 and painful. Abscesses form in different parts of the body, some- 

 times about the umbilicus, and may contain considerable pus. Oc- 

 casionally the abscesses about the joints break, or one of the feet 

 drops off. In case the pus is along the umbilicus, it may discharge 

 outside and recovery takes place. If it discharges into the abdom- 

 inal cavity, death is sure to result. 



Treatment. This is wholly preventive. If the disease exists 

 in a litter, the pen should be thoroughly disinfected and the bed- 

 ding burned. Sows should not be permitted to farrow close to an 

 affected litter, or in a pen where an affected litter has been kept, 

 unless it has been well cleaned and disinfected. Washing the 

 umbilical cord with a 10 per cent solution of creolin or carbolic 

 acid should be practiced when the disease is present in a herd. This 

 will cause the cord to become hard and dry, and will prevent the en- 

 trance of the germs as well as disinfect the cord. (Ind. B. 100.) 



SURGERY. 



DIFFICULT PARTURITION. 



Difficult birth is not as common in the sow as it is in the larger 

 domestic animals. This is because the pelvic cavity through which 

 the foetus passes is large in comparison with the size of the young. 

 A roomy pelvic cavity, however, does not always insure an easy 

 birth, and when the owner fails to take the proper precautions and 

 neglects the hygiene of pregnant animals, there will be plenty of 

 cases of difficult parturition in the herd. 



Causes. The most common cause of difficult parturition in 

 young, fat sows is a large foetus and a narrow maternal passage, a 

 condition frequently met with when a large male is used on small 

 sows. Other causes are malpresentations, monstrosities and dis- 

 eases of the foetus (hydrocephalus, emphysemia, etc.). Emphyse- 

 matous conditions are met with when the act of parturition has been 

 prolonged and the foetus is dead and undergoing decomposition. 



