64 • DISEASES OF SWINE 



and seem to suffer severe pain when made to move 

 or try to get on its feet. If recovery does not take 

 place within a few days or a week, the appetite be- 

 comes poor, the bowels constipated, and the hog 

 grows worse rapidly, and within a few days makes 

 but little effort to get up. Such cases usually prove 

 fatal within a short time. 



Treatment. — This disease is one that can be large- 

 ly prevented. Hogs should not be kept under condi- 

 tions that predispose them to injury. Growing pigs 

 should have plenty of room for exercise, and be fed 

 a suitable ration in order to prevent a diseased con- 

 dition of the bones. , Fracture of the thigh-bones, as 

 a result of a rhachitic condition, sometimes occurs, 

 and is frequently mistaken for a paralysis, hence it 

 is well to include the above preventive measures with 

 the treatment of this disease. 



As soon as the hog is noticed ailing, it should be 

 given a pen by itself, and fed a light, sloppy diet. To 

 prevent constipation and keep the bowels loose a 

 physic of castor-oil should be given. If necessary, 

 this may be supplemented by an enema of glycerine 

 and water. 



Counter-irritation along the back is indicated in 

 this disease. Oil of turpentine (ten parts) and croton 

 oil (one part) make a very useful blistering liniment. 

 The firing-iron may also be used. Dr. Peters recom- 

 mends the following method of firing the back: 

 Fourteen or fifteen pieces of number sixteen wire, 

 pointed at one end, are placed in a charcoal or corn 

 cob fire and heated to a white heat. When hot as 



