DISEASES OF THE HOa. 125 



being restless or in some cases squealing. Little 

 can be obtained from physical signs in the pig and 

 we have to content ourselves with the other symp- 

 toms; but no great mistake can be made if we treat 

 the inflammation and fever on general principles. 

 Post mortem examination reveals effusion in the 

 cavity; this usually begins about the third day and 

 if the disease is not checked it increases until the 

 end. There is also a fibrinous matter or lymph 

 which is at first generally in the form of a soft, deli- 

 cate film over the surface of the membrane from 

 which it is easily separated; by degrees this be- 

 comes thicker and thicker over the surface of the 

 membrane until in some cases it will be found to be 

 an inch in thickness and somewhat hard. The oc- 

 currence of such changes must add greatly -to the 

 danger of the disease and indicates the need of 

 prompt application of efficient treatment before it 

 reaches this point. The changes which take place 

 are not always the same. In some violent cases the 

 disease has been known to run its course in a very 

 short time and to terminate in forty-eight hours. 

 In other cases the inflammation terminates in a 

 few days before the effusion takes place. Some- 

 times mild cases may last for several weeks and 

 the animal recover. When it is likely to prove fatal 

 the animal becomes very weak and staggers about, 

 refuses food, the pulse is small and fast — from one 

 hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty. 

 There is usually some anasarca between the fore 

 legs; an animal in this condition is liable to die at 

 any moment from loss of heart power. 



