PIG-BED FEVER 687 



the sow will be noticed to be shivering with a succession of light 

 chills. The fever goes up to 104° or 105° F. and the animal acts 

 dull and restless. The rate of the pulse is faster than normal and 

 the number of pulse-beats is also increased. The sow loses appe- 

 tite, is often constipated, and prefers to remain buried in her nest. 

 If she does get up and attempt to move about, she is seen to stagger 

 and have an unsteady gait. This staggering is due to two causes : 

 first, to muscular weakness as the result of the action of the poison- 

 ous substances absorbed from the infected uterus; second, to the 

 local pain and tenderness in the region of the womb. 



If an effort be made to examine the genital tract it will be found 

 to be very tender and painful. The visible membranes are swollen, 

 red, and inflamed. They are very hot to the touch, and in a short 

 time a very foul-smelhng, disagreeable looking discharge sets in. 

 If a dead pig or the after-birth is still in the womb the sow will make 

 frequent straining efforts to expel them. In the severe cases the 

 infection spreads all through the womb and attacks the lining mem- 

 brane of the abdomen, setting up a fatal peritonitis. 



Severe infections rapidly become alarming in appearance. 

 The fever remains high, the sow becomes very weak and stupid, all 

 appetite is lost, and death occurs within a few days. 



In the more mild cases the discharge from the genital tract is 

 the principal symptom. Fever, loss of appetite, and weakness are 

 often so slight as to be overlooked. These cases, however, often 

 hang on for weeks, and the animal may loose weight, become un- 

 thrifty in appearance, and very commonly will not breed during the 

 time that the inflammation persists. 



Treatment. — This disease is one that is much more successfully 

 prevented than treated after it has made its appearance. It is 

 highly essential that the farmer and stockman should understand 

 the importance of having this disease in mind. Pig-bed fever is a 

 very serious condition and causes severe losses. Whenever it is 

 necessary to give a sow assistance in a difficult birth, make sure that 

 the hands are perfectly clean before starting to handle the case, and 

 any wires, cord, hooks, or other materials used in the operation 

 should be made perfectly free from germs by boiling if possible. 

 Gentleness and caution should be exercised in order to prevent 

 tearing or otherwise injuring the genital passages. 



