DISEASES OF THE HOG. 79 



symptom of worms. The bowels are sometimes 

 constipated and at others relaxed with straining 

 and mucous or blood discharges; the mucus w^hich 

 is passed may be in shreds, which are sometimes 

 mistaken for fragments of half digested worms. 

 They also interfere with digestion, both of the 

 stomach and intestines, which is indicated by un- 

 digested food in the feces. The appetite is very 

 variable it may be natural in some cases and in 

 others deficient, depraved or craving usually the 

 animal has a ravenous appetite, eating material 

 which it would not touch in health. Bleeding 

 from the nose, cough and swelling of the lips are 

 also symptoms. The effects of worms frequently 

 extend beyond the alimentary canal. Among the 

 most common of these affections are derangement 

 of the nervous system, such as vertigo, chorea and 

 fits, obstinate cough, swelling of glottis, dyspnea 

 and palpitation. They also cause some fever and 

 loss of flesh and several skin diseases. It is diffi- 

 cult to diagnose a case of worms, as the above 

 symptoms may be caused from indigestion. A 

 new means of detecting them is by the microscope; 

 even if there are no fragments of the worms pres- 

 ent in the feces their eggs can be detected. Sus- 

 pected cases ought to be examined by the micro- 

 scope, and if the examiner is acquainted with the 

 character of the ova this will decide the case. 



Causes of worms: There has been a great contro- 

 versy on this subject, but no doubt the parasites 

 obey the general law of nature in their develop- 

 ment and growth. It is probable that the ova 



