DISEASES OF THE HOG. 143 



CHAPTER XV. 



SKIN DISEASE. 



The skin on the animaPs body serves as a pro- 

 tection to the soft structures beneath it, also to 

 prevent noxious materials from passing into the 

 tissue beneath it; it also allovrs the escape of waste 

 substances from the body. There is very little per- 

 spiration exudes through the pores of the hog's skin 

 and therefore this animal suffers from heat and 

 seeks the mud puddle or water hole on a hot day 

 to cool himself. If a pig is driven fast on a hot day 

 it will be seen to open its mouth and protrude its 

 tongue in order to cool off. On this account pigs 

 should be sheltered from the heat of the sun and 

 if possible should have a good clean mud puddle to 

 wallow in; what is meant by clean mud is where 

 the water in it is fresh, not stagnant or of a yellow- 

 ish green color; such muddy pools are full of mi- 

 crobes which may in some cases find their way into 

 the animal's body and cause disease. Still, from 

 practical experience, I think the heat of the sun 

 will do more harm to the health of the hog than 

 wallowing in a stagnant pool. If from disease of 

 the skin or other causes the pores should become 

 blocked up the animal is liable to suffer more or 



