538 DISEASES OF SWINE 



hog wallows should be drained out and replaced by modern con- 

 crete wallows which can be kept clean. In giving drugs by mouth 

 use care not to have them in too strong solutions. When handling 

 hogs with a rope use care not to allow the rope to produce too 

 much rubbing and irritation. 



Curative. — The mouth should be examined, to see if there is 

 any foreign body, such as a splinter of wood or a piece of wheat 

 or barley straw, embedded in the mucous membrane. If such an 

 irritant be found it should be removed. The next important thing 

 in the treatment of these cases is to give them plenty of fresh 

 cold water in which to plunge the inflamed mouth to cool and 

 wash it. To this water we may advantageously add chlorate of 

 potash in the dose of 2 or 3 tablespoonfuls to the pail of water. 

 Stronger solution, of a tablespoonful to the pint of water, may 

 be used to wash out the mouth in severe cases. A favorite 

 domestic remedy and a very effective one, too, is made by 

 taking 1 quart of water, 4 ounces of vinegar, and 1 table- 

 spoonful of common salt, mixing together, and using for a 

 mouth-wash. 



Boric acid solutions, solutions of creolin, solutions of alum, 

 and simular substances are sometimes used. The cold water 

 and the chlorate of potash are about all that will be required in 

 the majority of cases. 



A very important essential, of course, is to find out if the dis- 

 ease be due to the feeding of any particular class of food, and, 

 if so, make such change in the diet as will remove this cause. 

 During the course of the disease the food given should be of a 

 soft, easily digested character. Bran, middUngs, and milk make 

 a good combination during the acute stages of the disease. 



PTYALISM (SALIVATION OR SLOBBERING) 



This is a condition somewhat similar to the one just described. 

 It consists principally in an overactivity of the salivary glands 

 and an overproduction of saHva. It may be caused by irritation 

 of the mouth or of the salivary glands. It is often due to the eating 

 of mercury or lead. The principal symptom is an excessive flow 

 of saliva, with drooling of the fluid from the mouth in large quan- 

 tities. 



