246 DISEASES IN SWINE. 



Kidney-Worm. — There is a fatal disease amongst our swine in the west, called the 

 Kidney-Worm, which causes a weakness in the back, and finally a falling of the 

 hind quarters, which they will drag around for months, until they become the most 

 loathsome objects that you can conceive of. Arsenic in small portions, mixed with 

 their food, will generally prove effectual, if given in the first stages of the disease; 

 and the best preventive medicine is ashes and sulphur mixed with their salt; for 

 hogs require as regular salting to keep them healthy and in good condition as do 

 cattle or horses. — S.] 



COSTIVENESS. 



This is not an uncommon complaint of the confined and fattening 

 hog, and is easily removed by the Epsom salts, or by five grains of 

 calomel beinor aiven in a little of the animal's favourite food. It will 

 be dangerous, however, to push the calomel beyond the second or 

 third dose, for the hog is very easily salivated. The bowels having 

 been well opened, a dose of the Alterative Pow^der (Recipe No. 2, p. 

 244) given every fourth day will be very beneficial, and will hasten 

 the fattening of the styed hog that exhibits any disposition to cos- 

 tiveness. 



Sometimes, however, this costiveness is produced by — 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS, 



which is attended by considerable pain, heat and tenderness of the 

 abdomen, with a quick pulse, and other symptoms of fever, and some- 

 times by fits and insensibility. The treatment should consist of 

 copious bleeding, oily laxatives, clysters, warm fomentations to the 

 abdomen, and, if the animal is not too large, warm baths. 



