Acute Gastric Indigestion in Swine. 163 



ful tepid water, or a teaspoonful of ipecacuan wine. Or >£ dr. 

 of a tot solution of apomorphia hypodermically. Beyond this, 

 little is wanted except careful feeding as regards quantity and 

 quality. Nux vomica y 2 gr. twice a day will serve to restore 

 tone. Further treatment will come naturally under catarrhal 

 gastritis. 



ACUTE GASTRIC INDIGESTION IN SWINE. 



Causes : fermented or putrid swill, spoilt vegetables, frozen aliments, 

 caustic alkalies (powdered soaps) from kitchen, indigestible materials, 

 poisons. Symptoms : dullness, grunting, restlessness, seeking seclusion, 

 colics, vomiting, rumbling, tense, tucked up abdomen, diarrhoea. Treat- 

 ment : emetic, bland acids, laxative, dieting, bitters, iron. 



Causes. Swine have such a varied dietary, are so constantly 

 fed swill containing all manner of ingredients and often kept in 

 barrels, etc., that are never emptied and cleansed, and therefore 

 so often the seat of septic fermentation, that both gastritis and 

 enteritis are often produced. Spoilt turnips, potatoes, apples and 

 other succulent vegetables, or those that have been exposed to 

 frost, or which are devoured while frozen are additional causes of 

 irritation. The various caustic alkaline powders used in washing 

 the table dishes and the product added to the swill is another 

 cause of such outbreaks which, attacking a whole herd at once, is 

 attributed to hog cholera. Then indigestible materials (hoofs, 

 hair, bristles, tree bark, etc.) when they fail to be rejected by 

 vomiting cause gastritis and indigestion. Finally a long list of 

 medicinal and toxic substances act in this way. 



Symptoms are like those seen in dogs, dullness, arching of the 

 back, drawing the feet together, erection of the bristles, hiding 

 under the litter, grunting, restlessness, frequent movement from 

 place to place, lifting of the hind feet, grubbing in the litter with 

 the snout, tension of the abdomen, and often abdominal rumbling 

 followed by diarrhoea and recovery. More commonly, however, 

 relief comes from early rejection of the irritant matters by 

 vomiting. 



Treatment. Induce emesis as in the dog. Give vinegar in 

 case of alkaline poisoning. Follow this by a laxative if the irri- 



