180 DISEASES OF THE HOG. 



pigs; from six months to one year is the usual age. 

 The disease does not seem to do any particular 

 harm to the hog as far as its growth and health are 

 concerned. 



Symptoms: The first thing noticed is an irreg- 

 ular jerking motion of some of the muscles, espe- 

 cially those of the shoulder, fore leg, or neck. It 

 gives the animal an unsteady gait When the 

 muscles of the trunk are the ones affected the ani- 

 mal is pulled to one side or the other. I have seen 

 cases where the pig started off its hind parts would 

 drag so much to one side that it would cause the 

 animal to fall over. In slight cases there may only 

 be a jerking of the muscle which is of little incon- 

 venience to the animal. This dera-ngement is easily 

 diagnosed by the absence of fever, coma, delirium 

 and rigid spasms of other nervous diseases which 

 are not present in this one. 



Treatment: In the great majority of cases treat- 

 ment should not be tried. It usually does not affect 

 the health of the animal and it can be fed for mar- 

 ket as well as the others. If it should affect the 

 muscles of the mouth so as to prevent the animal 

 from eating as well as is necessary in feeding hogs 

 medicine may be tried. The subcarbonate of iron 

 in half to one dram doses in the food three times 

 a day is a good remedj^ The sulphate of zinc in 

 two grain doses increased to three or four if the 

 stomach will bear it or Fowler's solution of arsenic 

 in five drop doses three times a day in food is also 

 good. 



