XLIX. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



The hog frequently suffers with diseases of the digestive 

 organs. He is an omnivorous animal, eating both animal and 

 vegetable food; his instinct demands and his health requires 

 such food. In his native state, he obtains animal food by dig- 

 ging wonns with his nose. The improved methods of swine 

 breeding have proclaimed the nose of the hog a useless appen- 

 dage. He is deprived of his natural method of obtaining food 

 by putting a ring in his nose. Thus deprived of the natural 

 means of obtaining a supply of animal food, he is forced to sub- 

 sist almost exclusively upon vegetable diet, consisting mostly of 

 corn. In the corn-growing and hog-growing districts, the only 

 food received from birth to slaughter is com. Where this diet 

 is used, hogs frequently suffer with troubles of the digestive 

 organs. 



The symptoms of stomach and bowel troubles are a refusal 

 of food; the hog stands and hangs the head low tothe ground, 

 stamps the feet, especially the hind ones, or he may lie down 

 most of the time. The ears are dropped, the face indicates pain, 

 the forehead having a wrinkled appearance. The tongue is gen- 

 erally white and flabby, especially when the stomach is affected. 

 If the tongue is narrow, red, and contracted, it shows that the 

 stomach requires acids. Sllight tympanitK?s may be present, 

 which may be detected by tapping on the abdomen when the hog 

 is lying down. The animal may vomit in some cases. 



Treatment. — Give one drachm of aloes, or, for the same pur- 

 pose, four ounces of epsom salts may be used. To relieve pain, 

 the following remedies may be used: Tincture of opium, two 

 drachms; sweet spirits of nitre, one drachm; water, a half pint^ 



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