134 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



PURULENT INFECTIONS OF THE BLOOD. 



By this is meant a diseased state of the blood at- 

 tended with a low form of fever dependent on the 

 absorption of poisonous material from the decom- 

 position of tissue into pus. This sometimes takes 

 place after castration or other wounds that the ani- 

 mal may receive. There is a tendency in this dis- 

 ease for abscesses to form in various parts of the 

 body; they are especially liable to form on the 

 lungs and liver. In pigs which have died of this 

 disease I have found a number of abscesses, vary- 

 ing from the size of a pea to that of a walnut; 

 these abscesses may be found in any part of the 

 body, even in the muscles. These purulent collec- 

 tions are usually surrounded by more or less in- 

 flammation. There is also a tendency to a low form 

 of erysiijelatous inflammation in various parts of 

 the body, ending frequently in gangrenous ab- 

 scesses, which usually terminate fatally. The 

 symptoms of this disease are not well marked at 

 first in the pig. The animal refuses food and has 

 shivering fits; it lies around and does not want to 

 get up; if it does so it will act stupidly, breathe 

 fast, the pulse will be fast and weak, the tempera- 



