574 DISEASES OF SWINE 



This muscular weakness may become so pronounced in the hind 

 extremities as to cause lameness and even inability to walk. The 

 temperature may be raised one or two degrees. 



Taken all together, the picture in this disease is not greatly 

 different from that seen in hog-cholera, and in many instances the 

 disease has been mistaken for cholera. In most cases it paves an 

 entrance for cholera. The irritation of the stomach and bowels, 

 together with the weakness resulting from loss of appetite and 

 faulty digestion, drag the animal down to the point where it is very 

 easy for the cholera germs to gain a foothold. 



Treatment. — The poisonous agent in most of these washing pow- 

 ders is some strong alkaU, such as carbonate of soda. These caustic 

 alkalis are best counteracted by the administration of some weak 

 acid substance. Vinegar is one of the best of these and is always 

 at hand. Following this the bowels should be cleared out by the 

 administration of oil, and this may be all that is necessary in most 

 instances. In the more severe cases, with marked pain and inflam- 

 mation of the bowels, tincture of opium and bismuth subnitrate are 

 the best agents to use. The opium may be given in doses of 

 I to 1 teaspoonful; the bismuth powder, in about the same 

 dose. 



Ergot-poisoning, or ergot-gangrene, is seen not infrequently 

 in hogs as well as in other domestic animals. It is perhaps more 

 common in cattle, but may occur in hogs as well. The manner 

 in which the hog becomes poisoned by this drug is usually 

 through eating rye or other straw that contains the ergot. Ergot 

 is a form of fungous growth that resembles rust very much 

 and grows particularly on rye. This fungus is collected in many 

 countries and manufactured into a most valuable drug, which is 

 known under the name of ergot. 



Hogs may become poisoned by eating the screenings and chaff 

 around a threshing machine or elevator, or by eating the ergot- 

 infected straw in a rye stubble pasture. 



Among the first symptoms of ergot-poisoning is lameness. 

 The animal develops a stiff, unsteady gait, not greatly unUke that 

 seen in rheumatism. On examination, the joints and the feet are 

 found to be tender and painful to the touch. If the animal be 

 watched carefully it will soon be found that gangrene is com- 



