rEVEH.] 



AND Til 1:1 R VAIMOUS i; K H H DS. 



[feyeb. 



in which the pigs are lodged, and the noisome 

 victuals which they often contain. The food 

 which the pign nu'ct with and devour, is the re- 

 mains of inoulii) hit'ad and fruit, more especially 

 peas and lentils — the fermentation and decom- 

 position of which fariniicious suhstances, with 

 the quantity of bran which \s too frequently 

 given to them, occasion the most serious ills in 

 the animal economy, in addition to this, is 

 the constant lyint;: on the dung-heap, whence is 

 exhaled a vast volume of deleterious gas; and 

 also, when they remain too long on muddy or 

 arid ground, or are exposed to the rigour of 

 the season for any length of time. Such are 

 the causes which eficct a functional derange- 

 ment that cannot fail of being dangerous or 

 fatal, especially when brought back to the farm. 

 The pigs are then exposed to an alarming de- 

 gree of humidity ; they lay themselves down on 

 a poisonous and disgusting dung-heap, which 

 is certainly destructive. I could also cite many 

 villages and farms which, for two months of 

 the year, have the houses of their pigs desti- 

 tute of almost everything that is conilbrtable 

 and useful. Although, during the whole course 

 of the year, this typhoid disease never suspends 

 its ravages, yet there are certain times in which 

 it rages with great intensity — in the course of 

 the summer, and the commencement of autumn. 

 Tliere are farms and communes where it is 

 enzootic. It is a highly contagious disease. I 

 could cite many facts confirmatory of this ; and 

 need only speak of the inoculation in different 

 parts of the body, and the ichorous matter 

 which is contained in the spots that aflect 

 every part. The consequence to the pigs at 

 first brought home, apparently sound, is, that 

 when a little time has passed away, the disease 

 spreads through the whole of the piggery. 

 As to the transmission of tlie malady, by oi-dl- 

 nary means, to difierent kinds of animals, I 

 am unable to give any opinion. The flesh of 

 infected pork has been given to dogs. Is'o evil 

 has resulted from this experiment ; and the 

 inoculation of blood and of ichorous matter 

 has not occasioned any morbid affection to 

 the last of these animals ; but it was not the 

 same with regard to some sheep that were 

 submitted to a similar experiment. They 

 died two days alter the operation, presenting 

 all the symptoms and pathological lesions of 

 charhonueuse fever. 



*• Preservative Treatment. — The experience of 

 every day proves that it is more easy to pre- 

 vent a malady than to cure or coujbut it. In 

 consequence, 1 have always said to the far- 

 mers who suller the accumulation of typhoid 

 maladies, that they will never banish these from 

 their piggeries whilst the system of careless- 

 ness and ignorance, touching the rearing of tho 

 pig, continues to bo bo negligently overlooked. 

 i have always said to them, that, in despite of 

 their singular remedies, tho scourge under 

 which they labour will not disappear nnlil 

 they place the animals in proper situations — 

 not humid, but well aired, and where the liti'jr 

 is often renewed ; until, also, they give tiiein 

 sound nourishment, properly regulated, and of 

 sufficient quantity ; a pure and limpid water to 

 quench their thirst; and bathe them, when- 

 ever the temperature is much increased, while 

 they are weltering in the mire. It is also 

 requisite that the pigs should remain in their 

 sties in cold and rainy weather. In the course of 

 the summer, it is always necessary to give, 

 from time to time, some nitrated, salted, and 

 acidulated food. The Kochefort cheese is a 

 useful stimulant for those that are weak and 

 feeble ; and the administration of any bitter de- 

 coction will often be productive of benefit. 

 During the principal ravages of the epizootic, I 

 have seen benefit derived from small quantities 

 of camphor and nitre, mixed with a decoction 

 of sorrel. To this some have added, and with 

 considerable benefit, a small quantity of mer- 

 cury. The nasal membrane then secretes 

 more abundantly, the urine is clear and more 

 frequent, and the evacuation of the foecal 

 matter is more easy and copious. This mode 

 of treatment may be continued eight days. 

 If a pig is evidently ill, it should be separated 

 from its companions ; and even their abode 

 should be changed, and fumigation should be 

 practised every tliird day. As soon as a pig 

 is attacked with disease, he should be separated 

 from the others, placed in a warm situation, 

 some stimulating ointment applied to the 

 cliest, and a decoction of sorrel administered. 

 Trictions of vinegar should be applied to the 

 dorsal and lumbar region, with aromatic fumi- 

 gation about the belly. The drinks should be 

 emollient, and slightly mixed with nitre and 

 vinegar. If the fever now appears to be losing 

 ground, which may be ascertained by the 



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