126 DISEASES OF SWINE 



In taking up the lesions of hog-cholera it is best to begin sys- 

 tematically with the skin, and describe the changes found in each 

 important organ as we proceed from the skin inward in a thorough 

 examination of the carcass. 



RULES FOR MAKING POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION 



When called to view the carcass of an animal that has died from 

 any unknown cause, and it is desired to make a postmortem exami- 

 nation of the case, the following rules will be found very convenient 

 to follow: 



Remove the carcass to some convenient open space, preferably 

 to some point where it can be immediately burned after the post- 

 mortem examination has been completed. There is much less 

 chance of scattering infectious material by moving the carcass be- 

 fore it is opened than in moving it afterward. This is an important 

 consideration, when we consider the danger of further infecting 

 pens and pastures with the hog-cholera virus, and thus increasing 

 dangers for the remainder of the herd. 



The dead body is now laid on its back and, preferably, thoroughly 

 douched with an antiseptic solution of some kind. Good solutions 

 for this purpose are 1 : 2000 bichlorid of mercury, 1 : 500 carbolic 

 acid, or a solution of some of the coal-tar antiseptics or disinfectants, 

 such as the common hog dips, or, most preferable of all, the liquor 

 cresolis compound. Add just enough of this solution to a pail of 

 water to give it a bluish, soapy appearance, and then thoroughly 

 douche the carcass and the ground beneath and around with the 

 solution. A second pail of solution should be provided for washing 

 knives and other instruments used in the examination. 



With the carcass on its back, examination should first be made 

 of the external appearance of the skin, especially in the axillary 

 region just inside the front legs, in the flanks, around the ears, 

 on the snout and eyelids, for the appearance of reddening of the 

 skin, which is a common finding in this disease. 



LESIONS IN THE SKIN 

 As just stated, the lesions found in the skin consist of a redden- 

 ing, which may be due to a simple dilatation of the blood-vessels 

 (hyperemia), or there may be genuine hemorrhages into the skin, 



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