68 DISEASES OF SWINE 



productive, and have strong, healthy offspring, unless 

 they are in a healthy condition themselves. 



The male must not be used too freely, if young. 

 The excessive use of the male at all times should be 

 avoided. When he does not act as free as he should, 

 a stimulating ration should be fed and more exercise 

 allowed. Sterility in the female, caused by a closure 

 of the opening into the womb, can be corrected by 

 dilating the part the same as in other animals. 

 Closure of the maternal passages with fat can be 

 overcome by feeding a more suitable ration and per- 

 mitting the sow to take plenty of exercise. 



Sows having a discharge from the parts should not 

 be bred. Local treatment with disinfectant and as- 

 tringent solutions should be used until the leucor- 

 rhoeal discharges stop. 



ABORTION 



Abortion is the expulsion of the young from the 

 womb before it has become well enough ■ developed to 

 live outside of the mother. This accident may occur 

 in the sow, but is not nearly so common as in rumi- 

 nants. Two forms of abortion, sporadic and con- 

 tagious, occur. The former variety is the more 

 common. 



Sporadic abortion is generally due to external 

 causes. Sows well advanced in pregnancy may be- 

 come injured in some way and slip their pigs. It 

 occurs when the sows are kept in crowded quarters, 

 or when allowed to sleep in exposed places during 

 the cold weather. Crawling through small open- 



