584 DISEASES 0I<^ SWINE 



Within a few hours after the onset of the acute symptoms the 

 disease takes on a somewhat different ap[>tjarance, and there is a 

 profuse watery discharge from the nose a ad eyes. At first this 

 discharge is thin, watery, and ahnost colorless in appearance. 

 Later on it becomes more thick and o f a yellowish color. In the 

 majority of cases there is a loss of ap]^)etite, the bowels are some- 

 what constipated, and the flow of urinf 3 is less than normal. The 

 urine passed may be of a high color an d ^omewhat irritating. 



When there is inflammation of the 1 lose there is also frequently 

 an accompanying inflammation of the mucous membrane of the 

 larynx and bronchi. As a result, the gmimal will develop a sharp 

 barking cough, which is especially notic^.eable when the hog comes 

 out into the open air from a warm shed . 



Treatment. — Preventive treatment of this condition consists in 

 providing suitable sleeping quarters fo)* the herd. Hogs should 

 never be crowded into overheated, poorly ventilated sheds. Es- 

 pecially should the practice of allowing hogs to burrow around a 

 straw-stack or manure pile be discontinued. The shed made by 

 piling a straw-stack over a framework of posts should also be 

 condemmed. Hogs need clean, dry, comfortable sleeping quarters, 

 where they have plenty of room, plentjr of light, and plenty of 

 ventilation. While cold in the head is not of such great importance 

 in itself, yet it is a dangerous condition, in that it lowers the vitality 

 of the animal and opens the way for hog-cholera. In nearly every 

 outbreak of hog-cholera in the winter months there is a preceding 

 history of catarrh and cough. 



The active medicinal treatment of the disease is simple. 

 The animals should, first of all, be removed to suitable quarters 

 where overcrowding and overheating may be avoided. The use of 

 all forms of dusty food should be discontinued for several days, as 

 dust irritates the inflamed membranes. Warm slops and bran 

 mashes are the best food for these cases. Give plenty of water 

 which is heated to a suitable degree to make it inviting. For the 

 purpose of overcoming the constipation a mild cathartic should 

 be given. The best remedies for this purpose are calomel and 

 castor oil. In cases where the discharge from the nose is quite 

 severe small doses of atropin or of tincture of belladonna may be 

 given. 



