560 DISEASES OF SWINE 



rhea; others, a yellow discharge, and in young pigs the bowel move- 

 ments are frequently green in color. In the cases associated with 

 hog-cholera a black-colored discharge is very frequently seen. 



Lack of ability to eat and the exhausting drain from the diar- 

 rhea tend to weaken the animal very rapidly, and it is not long 

 until he is unable to stand. From the very start there is loss of 

 all desire to move about, and the animal prefers to remain in his 

 nest or huddled off in some corner of the feed lot. If any attempt 

 is made to handle him, he shows by grunts and squeals that he is 

 suffering intense pain, and especially is this noted if any attempt 

 be made to palpate the abdomen. If the temperature be taken 

 it will usually be found to be high, although in some of the very 

 severe cases there may be no fever, and instead we may find a 

 subnormal temperature. 



Weakness becomes more pronounced, the animal refuses to 

 move, and, if forced to his feet, staggers about in an uncertain 

 manner, and immediately lies down again as soon as left to him- 

 self. Death may take place in a few hours unless treatment is 

 given to reheve the condition. 



Course. — In the acute cases the course is rather short. If the 

 disease be severe in nature, death is likely to be produced in a few 

 days. Especially is this true in the case of small pigs which have 

 sickened as the result of improper milk. In other cases, where 

 the symptoms are more mild, the disease may last for several 

 days and then pass gradually into a chronic form, which may 

 last for several weeks or even months, producing a chronic runt 

 which is worthless from the feeding standpoint. 



Treatment. — Here, as in other inflammations of the stomach 

 and bowels, a little prevention is worth tons of cure. Proper atten- 

 tion to diet and the feeding of clean, wholesome food will do an 

 enormous amount of good in preventing the occurrence of this 

 disease. Especially should care be used in the feeding of sows 

 that have a litter of sucking pigs. These little fellows are unusually 

 susceptible to the action of poisonous substances upon their deli- 

 cate stomach, and bowels. Plenty of room and light, airy quarters 

 should also be provided for the litter, in order that they may have 

 sufficient room to exercise. 



Active treatment consists, first of all, in clearing out the irri- 



