23 



of the benefit of warm quarters and of loss and misery endured for 

 want of them. Another important matter is the management of 

 sows at the time of parturition. At this period sows are very liable 

 to a feverish condition, which often exhibits itself in restlessness and 

 a desire to destroy their offspring ; but sometimes only in an inabil- 

 ity to furnish them their natural sustenance. In the majority of cases 

 this results from costiveness, to which at this crisis they seem espec- 

 ially subject, and which should therefore be guarded against by the 

 use of cooling and laxative food. Should this have been neglected, 

 resort must be had to an enema of luke warm soap suds. This may 

 be easily administered by means of a piece of rubber tube and a fun- 

 nel, which every farmer ought to have. At such times we perceive 

 the advantage of kind and reasonable treatment, which begets mutual 

 confidence and good will. 



To some it may appear ridiculous to talk of gaining the confiden(;e 

 and good will of a pig ; but in the experience of the writer, no animal 

 is moi'e capable of intelligence and afTection, tho' he is allowed few 

 opportunities to exhiliit these characteristics. " Stupid as a hog," 

 " Filthy as a hog," are common but unjust aspersions of an animal 

 whose merits are original and conspicuous, and whose faults are the 

 inevitable result of man's ignorance, tyrann}' and greed. 



Hear what the poet says : — 



" Jacob ! I do not like to see thy nose 

 Turned up in scornful curve at yonder pig. 

 It would be well, my friend, if we like him, 

 Were perfect, in our kind ! And why despise 

 The sowborn grunter? He is obstinate. 

 Thou answerest ; ugly and the filthiest beast 

 That banquets upon offal. Now I pray you 

 Hear the pigs counsel. 



Is he obstinate? 

 We must not, Jacob, be deceived by words ; 

 We must not take them, as unheeding hands 

 Receive base money at the current worth. 

 But with a just suspicion try their sound. 

 And in the even balance weigh them well. 

 See now to what this obstancy comes, 

 A poor mistreated democratic beast, 

 He knows that his unmerciful drivers seek 

 Their profit and not his. He hath not learned 

 That pigs were made for man, born to be brown'd 

 And baconized : that he must please to give 

 Just what his gracious masters please to take : 



