Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. 175 



coccus and bacillus), which convey the disease to susceptible 

 animals after a number of artificial cultures (Loeffler). 

 Though not always inoculable from one genus to another, 

 there are many cases of such interchange, accidental and ex-- 

 perimental, and in these man has reciprocated freely with the 

 lower animals. The special potency of the poison, the re- 

 ceptivity of the subject, and the unwholesome condition of 

 the surroxindings have much to do with the result. Close, 

 filthy pens, and want of care, strongly predispose. The poi- 

 son is easily carried in milk. 



Symptoms. Sudden illness, with sore-throat and extreme 

 weakness and stiffness of back and loins. The pig moves 

 slowly and crouchingly with raised head, open dry mouth, 

 hoarse nasal grunt, livid tongue, and red swollen throat with 

 grayish-white patches of false membranes. The eyes are 

 dull and sunken, and the appetite gone. In a few hours all 

 the structures of throat and nose are involved, there is much 

 swelling and threatened suffocation and shreds oi false mem- 

 Irane are coughed up. The patient remains down, sits on 

 his haunches, or leans on the fence and usually perishes in 

 a fit of coughing. In other genera there is violent sore- 

 throat (at first often without fever), swelling of throat and 

 glands, difiicult swallowing and breathing, and later cough- 

 ing up of false membranes. The false membranes also ap- 

 pear on superficial sores, while in some cases the poison acts 

 especially on the internal organs. Muscular pains, weakness 

 and paralysis often follow. 



Treatment. Must be early to succeed, hence, examine tlie 

 throat for false membranes in all cases of sore-throat in pigs, 

 holding the animal with a noose around the upper jaw. If 

 white patches are seen, apply at once and freely the nitrate 

 of silver lotion advised for croup, and repeat as often as may 

 seem necessary to keep the diseased growths in check. Tinct- 

 ure of muriate of iron, with as much chlorate of potash as it 

 will dissolve, may be diluted in water to a strong astringent 

 wash and given every hour. The bowels may be freely 

 opened by a purgative, and tincture of the muriate of iron 

 and nitre given thrice a day in a tablespoonf ul of cold water. 



