OTHER AILMENTS OF SWINE 295 



Prevention. The best method, however, of handling 

 this evil in the swine growing industry is by prevention. 

 Well fed hogs, in general, are not subject to worms, that 

 is, a hog in good condition is better able to resist this par- 

 asite than one that is not in good condition. If a hog is 

 fed a proper and well balanced ration, including mineral 

 substances as well as the other nutrients, he is not likely 

 tu be troubled sufficiently with worms that they need 

 cause any worry. Furthermore, he will be better able to 

 resist the attacks of other forms of disease. By giving 

 free access to various mineral substances, such as wood 

 ashes, charcoal, air-slaked lime, and coal cinders, the hog 

 apparently will take care of the worm evil himself. It 

 seems that the alkali of wood ashes together with gritty 

 cinders have a tendency to destroy worms. At any rate 

 these mineral substances help to balance the ration so 

 that the hog has greater powers of resistance. If pump- 

 kins are fed in the fall of the year the seeds which have 

 vermifuge properties also help to keep hogs free from 

 worms. 



In order to keep hogs free from worms they should 

 have sanitary places in which to live and also their water 

 troughs, if such are used, should be kept thoroughly clean. 

 If foul water is allowed to stand in these from day to 

 day it affords an excellent place for worms to develop. 



SCOURS. 



Scours in pigs usually results from two causes, either 

 from improper feeding or by contagion. Improper feed- 

 ing that results in scours usually consists of two forms, 

 excess of feed, and particularly of protein, and sudden 

 changes in the ration, especially from sweet to sour and 

 from sour to sweet feeds. This trouble is usually preva- 



