626 DISEASES OF SWINE 



rare cases that are followed by paralysis of one or more groups 

 of muscles, iodid of potash and tincture of nux vomica should be 

 given three times a day with the food, administering about 20 gr. 

 of the iodid of potash and 15 drops of the nux vomica. 



MEGRIMS (VERTIGO, BLIND STAGGERS) 



This is a condition which is seen in the hog occasionally as a 

 primary condition. It is quite a common sjrmptom of some of 

 the acute diseases. 



Causes. — The most common cause for true blind staggers in the 

 hog is the presence of parasites in the brain tissue. The most 

 common of these is the echinococcus cysts. The condition is also 

 sometimes seen as a symptom of other disorders affecting the brain, 

 such as anemia, congestion, and inflammation. Not uncommonly 

 bUnd staggers occurs as a result of acute inflammation of the bowels 

 or as a symptom of severe toxic diseases, such as hog-cholera. 



Diseases of the heart may also cause attacks of dizziness by 

 interfering with the circulation of the brain. Foreign bodies in the 

 ear by scratching on the membrane of the ear may cause sufficient 

 reflex irritation to cause staggers. 



Sjrmptoms. — The attacks of vertigo are quite characteristic in 

 appearance. The anima) becomes dizzy, is attacked by periods of 

 blindness, and often walks around in a circle. This is especially the 

 case in those forms of the disease due to the presence of the cysti- 

 cercus parasites. The animal may jerk the head up and down or 

 shake it from side to side. In other cases, after taking a few stag- 

 gering steps forward, the animal will fall on the side and roll over 

 and over. 



The attacks may be of only short duration, and the animal may 

 entirely recover in an hour or two. If the disease be due. to para- 

 sites in the brain, they will recur at frequent intervals. 



Diagnosis is made between this disease and epilepsy, which it 

 somewhat resembles, by the absence of convulsions in staggers. 



Treatment. — The treatment of this condition lies almost en- 

 tirely in discovering, if possible, the cause. Those cases that are 

 due to digestive disturbances can be relieved by cleaning out the 

 bowel and giving a tonic condition powder for a few days. Cases 

 that are due to the presence of cysticercus offer no hope for treat- 



