DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 9 



is often overlooked, and, usually, it is not until the 

 stage of secretion begins that the inflammation is 

 noticed. When this occurs, saliva is seen dribbling 

 from the mouth and hanging in ropes from the lips. 

 The hog shows a disposition to eat sparingly, or re- 

 fuses to eat at all, mastication is painful, and the 

 mouth has a bad odor. 



The animal will champ the jaws at times, and seems 

 to find relief in running the snout into water. Slops 

 and soft foods are preferred, and if corn is taken into 

 the mouth, the animal is unable to chew it and a large 

 part will drop out. Mild cases do not show marked 

 symptoms, and only a slight or local soreness is 

 noticed. 



Simple sore mouth is not a serious disease and re- 

 covery usually occurs within a few days, even when 

 little or no treatment is used. 



Treatment. — Preventive measures are important. 

 Hogs should not be fed grains containing awns, and 

 when catching hogs with a loop we should be care- 

 ful and not bruise the mouth. Hot and putrid foods 

 and irritating drenches should not be given, not be- 

 cause of their irritating effect on the mouth alone, but 

 because of the injurious effect they have on other 

 parts of the digestive system. 



To relieve the pain and help in keeping the mouth 

 clean, plenty of clean water should be placed where 

 the hog can run his snout into it. Hard, dry foods 

 should be withheld and the animal fed nothing but 

 sloppy feeds. 



The medicinal treatment consists in washing the 



