SYMPTOMS IN ACUTE TYPE 167 



ease, just the same as if we had absolute proof that the disease 

 was cholera. 



In most of these cases we will soon have proof enough that the 

 outbreak is cholera. Other herds in the vicinity will become 

 affected, and it is not long until we will be able to find dead hogs 

 in which the changes in the kidneys, bowels, liver, spleen, and 

 lungs show typical signs that the disease is indeed cholera. 



Other cases which are also classed in the very severe or ful- 

 minant type show a period of severe illness for twenty-four to 

 thirty-six hours before they die. During this time the sick animal 

 is very stupid and dull, becomes very weak, and loses strength verj- 

 rapidly. The sick hog absolutely refuses food of any kind, but will 

 often show a most marked thirst, and a high temperature, which 

 will frequently run up as high as 110° F. or over. The animal when 

 he tries to walk is very unsteady and tends to weave and stagger, 

 especially in the hind limbs. Finally, the hog gets clear down and 

 remains down, being unable to rise even when efforts are made to 

 force him to do so. 



In such cases death frequently takes place during the night 

 or on the day following the attack, and in these animals when we 

 make a postmortem examination and open the dead body, we 

 find the engorged and swollen spleen, enlarged fiver, spotted kid- 

 neys, and reddened bowels which are diagnostic of cholera. In 

 these cases the red spots on the internal organs, especially the 

 kidneys, bladder, and lungs, are common, but the ulcers in the 

 bowels which are found in other forms of cholera are usually absent. 

 This is due to the fact that the disease runs such a short course 

 there is no time for ulcers to form. It takes several days 

 for ulcers to form in the bowels, and death in these very acute 

 cases takes place before the hog is sick more than twenty-four to 

 forty-eight hours. 



SYMPTOMS IN ACUTE TYPE 

 Acute cholera does not make as rapid a start as we have just 

 seen in the very severe or fulminant type of the disease, but com- 

 mences more slowly and in a sneaking sort of manner. Like the 

 thief in the night, it creeps up slowly, and is firmly started in the 

 herd before the owner is fully aware that there is anything the 



