APPENDIX. 243 



in the same order to clean the sties ; for, on being roused up, after lay- 

 ing still all night, they empty themselves while eating, and this becomes 

 habitual and keeps their beds clean and dry, which is a matter of great 

 importance to us, as we have all our straw to buy at a dear rate, and 

 have to economise it accordingly, for which reason most of our sties are 

 provided with wooden sleeping benches similar to that given in the de- 

 scription of the breeding house. So proceeding to No. 1, he turns the 

 occupants out, shakes up the bed, sweeps all clean, and taking up with 

 the shovel what had to be removed, he places it in the barrow, returns 

 them to their sty again, and passing on to No. 2, treating them in the 

 same way, and so on to the end. By this means the sties are kept clean 

 during the greater part of the day ; while out, they have free access to 

 a heap of small coal, which is kept in a corner of the yard entirely for 

 their use, of which they seldom fail to avail themselves, whenever they 

 have an opportunity ; there is also a trough with water, of which they 

 sometimes drink a little. 



" To enable pigs to thrive properly, they must be kept in a state of 

 robust health, for which purpose, proper shelter and a certain amount 

 of exercise, is quite as necessary as good feeding, and all dark, damp, 

 crampy sties should be avoided. There is no place in which young 

 growing stores do better than a good straw-yard during the winter 

 months. 



"Pigs will occasionally catch cold, especially when in low condition; 

 but, if taken in time, and placed in a warm sty by themselves, with a 

 little extra nursing, such as warm milk and water, with a little bran or 

 pollard, not forgetting the warm water injections if the bowels get out 

 of order, they will mostly be right again in a few days. If the case be a 

 bad one, and accompanied by much fever, and the patient will lie still, 

 we cover up with a wet rag, leaving only the nose out, pouring cold wa- 

 ter on to saturate it thoroughly, and then cover up with two or three 

 sacks to keep the steam in, and have found this bath give very great re- 

 lief. Pigs have a very great objection to any kind of restraint, as well 

 as a strong dislike to physic, and if held for the purpose of administer- 

 ing it, they struggle and scream so much, that they do themselves more 

 harm by it, than the medicine is likely to do them good ; besides, if not 

 done in a careful manner, there is great danger in forcing any liquid 

 into their mouths, for if introduced while they are screaming, they are 

 almost certain to be choked by it, so that the operator must wait until 

 they have done screaming, which will mostly be when they are out of 

 breath and cannot go on any longer, for which reason we have not used 

 medicine for several years past. They have also a very decided objec- 

 tion to strangers being admitted into their society, even if one of their 

 fellows leave them for a few days, on their return they are beset and 

 worried in a most unfriendly manner ; and if the intruder cannot find 

 means of retreat, they will often get cut and gored a good deal; where 

 the teeth penetrate beyond the skin, swellings will arise, which if they 

 become very large, they may be carefully opened with a lance, or sharp 



