11 



SWINE-FEVER. 



Definition. — A contao^ious eruptive disease caused by a 

 specific virus. 



Animals affected. — Swine. 



Symptoms.— ll\iQ disease may come on rapidly, especially in 

 young' pig-s. This is the acute form, which generally ends 

 fatally in about three days. The symptoms are less definite 

 than in chronic cases. The temperature is high — 103° Fahr., 

 or even higher. The breathing is quick ; the pigs seem io have 

 lost control over their hindquarters, and stagger if made to 

 walk. A red rash appeal's on the skin at the base of the tail, 

 under the belly, inside the thighs, and on the ears. 



Usually the symptoms come on more slowly. The pigs 

 appear to be dull ; they lie under cover and are disinclined to 

 move. The appetite is lost; frequently the animals vomit. 

 Constipation, followed by diarrhoea with blood-stained fseces, 

 is often observed. A mucous discharge may be present around 

 the eyes. Red patches, which later on assume a violet tinge, 

 are observed at the base of the tail, inside the thighs and hocks, 

 under the belly, and on the ears. The temperature is high— 

 104° to 10G° Fahr. 



The pigs can be roused only with difficulty, and when made 

 to move they stagger about as if inebriated. Very frequently 

 lung symptoms are present. In this case the sick animals 

 suffer from a short cough, and the breathing is very laboured. 

 The lung symptoms are not necessarily due directly to Swine- 

 Fever, but they frequently accompany it and one must always 

 be suspicious if a number of pigs show signs of lung trouble. 

 The animals die in from one week to three. They may, 

 however, recover, or drag on for two months or more in an 

 emaciated condition. In countries where the disease has been 

 long established an infected animal sometimes appears to be in 

 normal health. 



Post-mortem. — The carcase is generally emaciated. The 

 discoloured patches on the skin have a livid hue, but this is also 

 seen in other diseases of swine. 



In acute cases followed by rapid death, the changes are not 

 characteristic, but one's suspicions should be aroused if a 

 number of swine become sick about the same time. In the 

 more chronic cases the most characteristic change — ulceration 

 — is found in the alimentary tract. The ulcers may be present 

 on the tongue, the stomach, or any part of the bowel, but in 

 most cases they are confined to the more posterior portions of 

 the latter, particularly around the junction of the ileum with 

 the caecum. 



