No. 4.] PIG RAISING. 413 



well-developed and rounded body behind that nose is of very 

 much higher importance. The boar is fit for service at eight 

 months old, and the sow can produce her first litter at twelve 

 months old. 



Diseases. 



The diseases which trouble the })ig grower are compara- 

 tively few, and he can be reasonably safe from loss by keci)- 

 ing close watch of sanitary conditions. Do not compel the 

 pigs to lie in wet, muddy nests over night ; and never let an 

 animal get chilled, because pneumonia is just as likely to 

 attack the pig as the human subject, and, although the case 

 is quite liable to recover, it is an unfavorable state of things, 

 and not wanted. The most to be dreaded of all the diseases 

 is swine plague or hog cholera. First of all, do not allow 

 any one to come about your premises who has been where 

 this exists. When it occurs, if the animals are in pens, 

 wash the sides and floor with a saturated solution of sulfate 

 of iron, and fumigate thoroughly every day with burning- 

 tar and brimstone. The fumes will not aftect the animals, as 

 the smudge will not be likely to settle in the pens. Feed 

 charred corn, plenty of charcoal, and keep a fresh supply of 

 coal ashes in the pens or pasture all the time. With rea- 

 sonable care, disease of any kind need not be feared very 

 much. 



Small pigs at three weeks old or thereabouts are some- 

 times affected with looseness of the bowels. This is a natu- 

 ral condition with all young creatures, and, so far as I can 

 see, does no harm unless the. trouble finally aifects the phys- 

 ical condition of the young creature. The cause of this un- 

 favorable feature is easily noticed as due to a variety of 

 causes. The presence of some foreign substance very un- 

 favorably aftects the delicate mucous lining of the intestines, 

 and the resultant inflanmiation appears in the disagreeable 

 looseness of the bowels. This condition causes more or less 

 fever, and the young things will be noticed sipping the filthy 

 liquid about the pen. Also they will root about the walls 

 for any old, filthy, dried-on material that they can find to 

 swallow. Fortunately, this condition does not last very long ; 

 and, if the surroundings can be immediately changed to the 



