DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP AND PIGS 487 



stuck out ahead. In some cases the feet are so sore that 

 the pig squeals when it is forced to put its weight on the 

 front ieet. From the severe pain of the feet and not being 

 able to get around to eat its food it soon falls off in condi- 

 tion and becomes very gaunt. 



Treatment. — If in the summer time, turn the affected 

 pigs out where they can root in the ground, and pour water 

 in the hole where they lie every day to keep the ground wet, 

 as this helps cure the sore feet. Mix half a pound each of 

 sulphur and nitrate of potash or saltpetre, and give a tea- 

 spoonful of the mixture in a slop twice a day to each of the 

 affected pigs. If in the winter keep the pig in a warm, dry 

 place. Give a physic of Epsom salts (use the proportion given 

 in blind staggers), feed light and give the mixture above 

 mentioned. Poultice the front feet every night and the pig 

 will soon get all right. 



10. Black Teeth. 



These are very small black teeth which are found in the 

 sides of the mouth when young pigs are born. They con- 

 tinue growing for some time, but after the pig gets larger 

 they drop out of their own accord. These teeth sometimes 

 grow in such a manner that they cut and poison the tongue 

 and make it so sore that they cannot eat. In a little while, 

 if not attended to, the tongue becomes so badly swollen that 

 often the pigs will die from starvation and blood-poisoning. 

 We have seen cases where three or four pigs in one litter 

 died from black teeth. 



Treatment. — Catch the young pigs and examine each 

 one of them. If they have black teeth, pull them out with 

 a pincers and they will soon be all right. It is a good 

 practice to catch and examine a litter of young pigs, for if 

 the black teeth are taken out in time it will often prevent 

 some of them from dying before you notice them being 

 sick. 



11. Lice. 



These lice are large and resemble ticks on sheep, only 

 they can run very fast. We have seen cases where the pigs 

 were literally covered with them. Pigs that have lice on 

 them do not thrive well, and they are a great preventive 

 to fattening pigs, because they irritate and cause them to 

 be continually rubbing and scratching themselves. 



