570 DISEASES OF SWINE 



poor, and the animal may show frequent evidences of colicky pain 

 in the abdomen. In the straining efforts to defecate the animal 

 may simply turn the lower end of the rectum inside out, the con- 

 dition being known as eversion of the rectum. This is especially 

 hkely to occur in those cases that are brought on through eating 

 large amounts of dry food. In the more severe cases the animal 

 becomes dull, stupid, and shows a tendency to remain off by him- 

 self. He seeks some shaded corner, and there hes down and remains 

 quiet. If the animal be caught and examined, the hard dry masses 

 in the intestine can often be felt even through the belly wall, and 

 there may be considerable abdominal tenderness. 



Treatment. — In the prevention of constipation the main point is 

 to avoid the use of an excessive amount of dry food. There should 

 be sufficient variation offered that the animal may not be required 

 to use simply a dry diet. Some sloppy food should be included in 

 the daily chet, and the animal should have sufficient room to get a 

 reasonable amount of exercise daily. Water should always be 

 provided in abundance, and in cold weather it should be heated to 

 the point where it can be drank with comfort. 



The active treatment of constipation consists in so modifying 

 the diet as to restore the normal function of the bowel. All dry 

 food should be withheld and sloppy food given instead. A mild 

 laxative of some nature is indicated, such as castor oil or linseed oil. 

 Plenty of water should be provided, and this water must be of -a 

 temperature which will allow of its being taken without chilling the 

 body of the animal. If the hogs are in too close quarters, allow 

 them a little more room. 



If the case be a very severe one, with complete stoppage of 

 bowel movements, it will be necessary to use a rectal injection of 

 soap and water in order to get the bowels to moving well. In these 

 severe cases it is well to treat the condition of the bowels and stom- 

 ach for a few weeks. For this purpose one of the tonic mixtures 

 already mentioned should be administered. 



POISONING 



Poisoning by various forms of chemical agents has already 

 been referred to under the head of Diseases of the Stomach and 

 Bowels. Owing to the utter carelessness which exists in the feeding 



