168 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



the majority of cases there will be more or less 

 effusion take place, which w^ll exude through the 

 skin, or small vesicles ma/form and burst, dis- 

 charging lymph, this is a very favorable sign, or 

 matter nmy form and cause a large slough. A 

 man told me he had a large pig which swelled in 

 its body and that there was a considerable quan- 

 tity of matter formed so that the greater part of 

 the skin of one side and part of the belly peeled off 

 and he had the pig destroyed. This was, no doubt, 

 a case of erysipelas. I have seen cases in very fat 

 pigs where the skin of the abdomen loosened from 

 the connective tissue and hung down. There was 

 very little effusion. In time the hair dropped out 

 and the skin contracted into a sort of fold. In time 

 the animal recovered, but it was much disfigured. 

 In cases where the head and face are the parts af- 

 fected the inflammation often extends to the brain 

 through the nostrils and ethmoidal cells, causing 

 delirium and death. 



Treatment: In the early stage a dose of epsom 

 salts is proper and cooling medicine, such as ni- 

 trate of potassium in ten grain doses three or four 

 times a day. If there is irritation of the bowels 

 castor oil in one to two ounce doses will 

 be the best cathartic. Should the pulse be 

 fast and full, give a few doses of tinc- 

 ture of aconite three to five drops every two 

 hours until the pulse is reduced both in force 

 and frequency. When there is feebleness from the 

 beginning with restlessness or nerve irritation one 

 grain each of opium and ipecacuanha should be 



