14 DISEASES OF SWINE 



roundings and irritating feeds. Some people seem 

 to think that a hog can eat anything and take poison 

 with impunity, and, as a result, it frequently suffers 

 from ignorant methods in the feeding, care, and 

 giving of drugs. 



The cause of inflammation of the stomach and in- 

 testines are much the same as in acute indigestion, 

 only they act more intensely. Dirty, filthy yards and 

 pens, and decomposed, overkept foods can be espe- 

 cially mentioned. When hogs are kept under such, 

 conditions the snout and food becomes soiled with 

 filth and injurious organisms. These enter the diges- 

 tive tract and irritate the lining membrane, causing 

 it to become inflamed, and paving the way for cer- 

 tain bacteria that would under other conditions prove^ 

 harmless. 



Toxic or poisonous substances, as salt brine, wash- 

 ing powders, wash waters, etc., that are frequently 

 found in the swill, may cause a severe inflammation 

 of the stomach and intestines. 



Symptoms. — The first symptoms usually noticed 

 are those of severe abdominal pain. The back is 

 arched, the ears droop, and the abdomen is tucked 

 up. When the abdominal walls are pressed on the 

 hog will flinch and show other evidence of pain, such 

 as grunting, squealing, restlessness, champing and 

 grinding of the teeth. The body temperature is high- 

 er than normal, .especially at the beginning of the 

 disease. If the intestinal contents ferment or ob- 

 struct the intestines, bloating occurs. The inflamma- 

 tion causes the animal to suffer severely at first, and 



