ECZEMA 617 



proper management in the feeding of swine to prevent development 

 of digestive disorders, constipation, and other disturbances that 

 may lead to urticaria. 



With the development of an attack of the disease the best 

 method of reUeving the irritation is to give the animals a dip in a 

 strong solution of baking soda, using about 1 pound of soda to 

 20 or 30 gallons of water. This can be put in the dipping vat if one 

 is on the premises, or a smaller amount of the solution can be made 

 up in buckets and apphed by sprinkUng or sponging over the 

 affected animals. This is a most efficient preparation for relieving 

 the itching and restlessness. 



To clear out the stomach and bowels, and remove the most 

 likely cause of the disease, a brisk dose of Epsom salt should be 

 given with the food, giving about 1 large tablespoonful to the 

 average size hog and 2 tablespoonfuls to the larger ones. The 

 diet should be of a sloppy nature for a few days, and, with a 

 thorough cleaning out of the digestive tract, the condition will 

 rapidly disappear. Proper regulation should then be made of 

 the method of feeding to prevent recurrence, and it is well to follow 

 up the active treatment with a condition powder for a few days or 

 even a couple of weeks. 



ECZEMA (PITCH SCAB, SOOT OF YOUNG PIGS, PITCH MANGE) 

 These are all names which are applied to the condition known as 

 eczema in the hog. Eczema is a true inflammation of the skin, and 

 differs from a simple erythema, in that it is an actual inflammation 

 instead of a simple reddening of the skin. Eczema is comparatively 

 rare in the hog, and this is a most wonderful thing when we con- 

 sider the unhygienic surroundings under which the hog is usually 

 kept. If it were not for the fact that the pig appears to be pecu- 

 liarly insusceptible to eczema, the disease would be one of the most 

 common found among swine. 



Causes. — Eczema is particularly frequent in young pigs. In 

 fact, it is very unusual for the disease to develop in older hogs. It 

 is on account of this fact that eczema derives its name of "soot of 

 young pigs." Dirty, filthy conditions under which hogs are kept in 

 many instances explains the cause of the disease. In many cases 

 the disease is due to irritating substances contained in the water 



