140 THE HOG. 



and cleanliness ; cooling wholesome food alone should be given, and 

 water, in which barley-meal has been dissolved. Nothing of a rich 

 or heating nature should be allowed to come within reach of the 

 animal. As external applications, mercurial ointment may be mode- 

 rately applied to the ulcerated parts, or the common mange oint- 

 ment composed of sulphur and antimony. 



In all probability the reason why this and many other diseases of 

 swine have hitherto been regarded as incurable, is that men of science, 

 educated veterinarians, have as yet given but little of their attention 

 to these useful animals, and deemed the study of their diseases and 

 of the means of treating them beneath their notice. Nor is the 

 owner without his share of blame, for he too often either abandons 

 the poor brute to its fate, or calls in the aid of the pig-butcher or 

 some ignorant empiric. 



There have been numerous opinions advanced relative to the pre- 

 disposing causes of leprosy ; some authors attribute it to exposure 

 to the inclemency of the weather, insufficient food, and damp marshy 

 localities ; and urge in support of their opinion that the disease was 

 much more prevalent and fatal when swine were turned into the 

 woods and forests during certain periods of the year to seek their 

 own food than it is now when they are comfortably lodged and more 

 care devoted to their feeding. Others have attributed it to some 

 pernicious qualities in the water which the animals drink, or in the 

 food which is given to them ; and with both these parties we are in- 

 clined to agree, and to attribute this disease in a great measure to 

 vitiation of the blood. 



The wild boar appears to be exempt from it; nor is leprosy 

 known in America, Russia, or Spain, if we may believe the testi- 

 mony of various authors and travellers. 



Some have asserted it to be hereditary ; but there are numerous 

 facts on record in which some of the progeny of a perfectly healthy 

 boar and sow have proved leprous, while a diseased sow has pro- 

 duced sound and healthy young. 



Another question has likewise been much discussed, namely, the 

 propriety or safety of eating the flesh of pigs that have died of this 

 disease. These animals, however good condition they may appear 

 to be in, are rather bloated than fat ; the flesh is soft and flabby, 

 and tasteless, and will not keep; the bacon pale in color and want- 

 ing consistency. Soup made with such flesh is white, greasy, and 

 insipid, and has been known to produce vomiting and diarrhoea. We 

 are not aware that there are any records of disease or other evil 

 resulting from the eating of the flesh of leprous pigs ; nevertheless 

 it stands to reason that it cannot be wholesome, and should not be 

 made use of, for although no immediate ill effects may follow the 

 eating of it, we cannot tell what insidious evils such vitiated and 

 diseased food may engender in the human frame. 



