582 DISEASES OF SWINE 



ICTERUS NEONATORUM (JAUNDICE OF NEWBORN) 



In some cases young pigs seem to be born with a jaundice or 

 yellow dscoloration of the tissues. This condition is known as the 

 icterus of the newborn or icterus neonatorum. The cause for this 

 condition is unknown. Many authorities have advanced the ex- 

 planation that it is due to infection received during or shortly after 

 birth. 



In most cases the disease is associated with severe disturbance 

 of digestion, and the pigs die in the course of a few days from ex- 

 haustion and weakness. Castor oil may be given, but usually treat- 

 ment is of no value. 



DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN 



These are rather uncommon in the hog as separate and dis- 

 tinct diseases. Most certainly they are never capable of diagnosis 

 as such. In practically all the acute infectious diseases, and es- 

 pecially in hog-cholera, there is involvement of the spleen. The 

 organ becomes enlarged, swollen, and congested, and there must 

 be considerable interference with the function of the organ. The 

 symptoms are never such, however, as to lead to diagnosis of 

 any disease of the spleen. 



In postmortem work in the packing houses I have seen some 

 very interesting postmortem changes in the spleen, but, judging 

 from the condition of the animal, they had produced but very little 

 if any disturbance in the health of the animal. 



Rupture of the spleen occurs sometimes as a result of severe 

 injury to the abdominal walls, such as being run over by a wagon, 

 and may produce quite severe symptoms. Diagnosis of the condi- 

 tion, however, is made, as a rule, only on postmortem examination. 



DISEASES OF THE PANCREAS 



Disease of this organ is of little or no importance in the hog. 

 In animals that appear to be perfectly normal a considerable 

 amount of fatty necrosis of the pancreas may be seen. There are 

 no characteristic symptoms produced in the hog by diseases of 

 this organ, and it is not worthy of further discussion. 



