176 VETERINARY STUDIES 



Treatment. — Both the affected and the suspected pigs should 

 be dipped to the ears two or three times a day for several days 

 in some good coal tar dip of 5 per cent strength. 



In case of valuable pigs the individual ulcers may be cleaned 

 and treated with 20 per cent silver nitrate, applied by a very 

 small cotton swab. 



Necrotic Enteritis 



Necrotic enteritis is an infectious inflammation of the bowels 

 of older hogs, due to B. necrophorus. It is sometimes mistaken 

 for hog cholera and is often a complication of that disease. 



Symptoms. — Diagnosis in the living animals is difficult and 

 uncertain. It may involve any portion of the mucous membrane 

 of the digestive tube. 



Autopsy shows the typical local necrosis involving this mem- 

 brane, — typical ulcers and larger patches of diphtheritic mem- 

 brane covered with yellowish, cheesy material. 



There may be hemorrhages on the mucous membrane of the 

 intestine, kidneys and other organs, resembling the hemorrhages 

 of hog cholera. However necrotic enteritis is usually a slow 

 disease and high fever is not characteristic as in hog cholera. 



Treatment. — Present methods of treating necrotic enteritis 

 are very unsatisfactory. There is as yet nothing to be positively 

 recommended. ]\Iany cases are undoubtedly complications of 

 hog cholera. In ease of doubt, use hog cholera serum. 



Prevention and management. — Infection occurs by inocula- 

 tion; therefore, avoid feed and feeding conditions favorable to 

 this virus and liable to produce the abrasion necessary to infec- 

 tions. The smallest scratch is sufficient for inoculation. 



Various intestinal parasites may undoubtedly injure the in- 

 testinal mucosa, and permit infections. Treatment for the 

 worms is therefore required as a preventive of this form of 

 enteritis. 



