22 DISEASES OF SWINE 



Spoonfuls of tincture of opium should be given the 

 mother, or a few drops placed on the pigs' tongues. 

 This should be repeated as often as necessary. In 

 some cases the pigs should be given a physic in order 

 to get rid of the irritation, but this part of the treat- 

 ment is usually unnecessary. 



DIARRHCEA— DYSENTERY 



Diarrhoea is a common symptom of many dis- 

 eases of the digestive tract. The immediate cause is 

 an irritated condition of the mucous membrane lining 

 the intestines and a profuse secretion from the in- 

 testinal glands. 



Causes. — Among the common causes of diarrhoea 

 can be mentioned irritating feedi, sudden changes in 

 the feed, especially to green rye and corn, irritation 

 from intestinal worms, imperfect mastication of the 

 food, and its imperfect preparation for digestion, 

 eating more food than the digestive organs can well 

 digest, a debilitated condition, and irritation from 

 undigested food. 



Treatment. — The preventive treatment consists in 

 avoiding such conditions as may cause the disease. 

 When diarrhoea occurs as a symptom of some other 

 ailment, this must first be treated, and the cause re- 

 moved. 



The hog should be given a light diet, or all food 

 withheld for a short time, and the intestines relieved 

 of the irritation by giving a physic of castor oil or 

 calomel. This should be followed by tincture of 

 opium (one to two teaspoonfuls), prepared chalk 



