COMMON DISEASES OF SWINE 337 
sary to make certain that their feed contains no germs, In 
(airy districts, the practice of sterilizing skim-milk, butter. 
milk, and whey is to be commended, because dairy by-products 
constitute the main medium for transmitting the discase to 
hogs. Sanitary surroundings, pure feed, and-fresh air are the 
feeder’s main safeguards in connection with this dangerous 
disease. 
INDIGESTION, 
Indigestion in various forms is caused by mistakes in feed- 
ing. Over-feeding and lack of exercise will sometimes bring 
on the trouble, or the feeding of swill containing injurious 
substances, such as washing powders, is apt to cause derange- 
ment. In the acute forn: it causes the animal a good deal of 
pain, causing it to arch its back and give general evidences of 
suffering. In such cases it is well to have a veterinarian 
prescribe for the trouble. 
The chronic form sometimes follows an attack of acute 
indigestion, causing an unthrifty, stunted condition of the 
animal. Perhaps the best home remedy is a dose of castor oil, 
followed by careful feeding upon easily digested feeds. If the 
trouble is not relieved, a veterinarian should be consulted. 
CONSTIPATION. 
As mentioned in another place, constipation is most disas- 
trous in the case of pregnant sows, and is the result of too little 
exercise and too much concentrated feed. In cases of constipa- 
tion, perhaps the simplest remedy is to give from two to four 
ounces of raw linseed oil once daily in the slop of a mature 
animal. If this is not effective, give four ounces of Epsom 
salts. Give exercise and supply laxative feeds, such as bran, 
oil meal, or ground flax-seed, zoots or alfalfa, 
22 
