80 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



])rocoss, tlierefore all the properties of such a process are requisite for the existence of 

 the disease. In order that the process of disease in an individual may develop, there 

 is necessary the union of a i)redisp()8ition (the inner element of disease) and an infec- 

 tion (the outer element). The predisposition, as the basis capable of development, is 

 analogous to the conceiving function in the female, and the infection corresponds to 

 the fecundating function in tlie male. As all disease is dependent upon tlie destruc- 

 tion of the healthy ])rocess, so the i)rinciple of disease in si)leuic fever is due to the 

 unhealthy, abnormal condition of the blood, causing the decomposition of the latter 

 and speedy death. 



I think it incontrovertible that the decomposition of blood in splenetic fever may 

 be accounted for by an insufficiency of iron in the blood. Proof of this is that in many 

 cases coming under my personal observation, where a timely treatment with prepara- 

 tions of iron, together with tonics in emulsions, was pursued, the diseased animals were 

 saved. One ounce of nniriatic acid and fifty ounces of water administered once every 

 liour, and after the fourth dose from one to throe drams of quinine, is a very success- 

 ful remedy. (Quinine, however, is too expensive for this ))urpose ; cortex chinai, from 

 one to two ounces to the dose, may be substituted.) In addition to this, ice-water ap- 

 plications about the head and horns are of great benefit. 



The disease a]>pcared under three forms, with symptoms as follows : 



1. Eye dull and infiamed ; lack of appetite ; feces thinner than usual, and slightly 

 reddish; urine natural ; pulse low; pulsation of heart increased. When the disease 

 takes a fatal turn, chills and tremors appear; head and horns become hot ; feces and 

 uriue bloody ; pulse slow and at times suspended ; beating of the heart perceptible ; 

 the eye assumes a dirty yellow appearance ; horns gi-ow cold and death takes place. 

 Duration of sickness, six, forty-eight, and ninety-six hours. 



2. Eye assumes a dirty red ; pulse slow, suspending at times ; beating of heart per- 

 ceptible; urine bloody; feces similar to rice-water, oft'ensive odor; head and horns 

 Lot. Duration of sickness from four to twelve hours. In this form of the disease a 

 compound of one dram of opium and two drams of quinine has proven very beneficial. 



3. I also noticed other varieties of splenic fever, which, however, were attended by 

 no dangerous symptoms. Calamus and gentian combined with tannin makes a very 

 good remedy. 



There is a preventive to si)lenic fever used in Germany with good results, consisting 

 of )ialri fiulplitmn jmto, 540 grains, (lihrnm tinam et (VimUVtam), sulphuria depurati ptilo, 

 iJt'O grains, {ttnc. sex). This is given in tablespoonfuls with tiie food. 



There were but few non-contagious diseases which in their acute form have caused 

 any serious loss. I will only mention colic and quinsy among horses and calving-fever 

 (puerperal fever) among cows. Most owners of horses know nothing of medicine, 

 chemistry, &c., but with the aid of " receipts," so-called " doctor books," and the advice 

 of unqualified persons, they regard themselves as fully competent to "doctor" their 

 horses. They almost invariably treat quinsy for glanders They set up some arbi- 

 trary, wrong diagnosis, and give the poor animals large quantities of useless, injurious 

 medicines, thus causing the loss annually of thousands of horses which were simply 

 sufit'ering from colic. These self-dependent men cannot tell whether the colic is caused 

 by infiammation of the bladder, spasms of the bladder, suppressiou of the peristaltic 

 action, gases, peritonitis, enteritis, &c., or by mechanical or organic obstruction; they 

 invariably administer the same medicine rather than go to the expense of a rational 

 veterinary treatment. Just so it is with puerperal fever, which, if not rationally 

 treated, is almost always followed by death. During my practice here I have not lost 

 a single horse afflicted with colic, or a cow having the puerperal fever, and therefore 

 regard the remedies applied by me in these cases as spcclfivs, whicii I shall only give 

 to the public for a suitable remuneration. 



Mr. Thomas B. Lucas, Easton, Mason Count}-, Illinois, sa3's : 



Hog-cholera prevails to a considerable extent here. The disease makes its appear- 

 ance about once a year. My hogs have often been afflicted with it, but never twice 

 alike. The fatality ranges from 10 to T.') jier ceut. Remedies are numerous, but none 

 seem to be of any account. A frequent change of diet and of rauge would seem to be 

 the best preventive, and a separation of the older from the younger hogs. The dis- 

 ease appears to be more fatal along streams and in timber-lands than elsewhere. 



Chicken-cholera also prevails to a considerable extent, witli a fatality ranging from 

 10 to 100 per ceut. 



Mr. L. B. Thornton, Tiiscumbia, Colbert County, Alabama, says : 



Horses here are subject to several different diseases, such as spavin, fistula, blind- 

 staggers, glanders, &ic. The best remedy for glanders is to shoot the animal as soon 

 jis taken, for the disease is incurable. Feeding horses on more oats and fodder and less 

 corn will be found a preventive for many of the diseases which afflict them, and will 

 also keep them in good condition. 



