HAIRLESS PIGS 277 



loss of hair is often only temporary, the denuded skin soon 

 again becoming covered with fine downy hair which grows out 

 to full length. Local alopecia appears in the form of small, 

 round, bald areas which gradually increase in size and by 

 coalescence form large, bald spots. The skin is intact, 

 although, as a rule, it is darker in color than normal. 



Diagnosis. — ^Alopecia might be confused with herpes ton- 

 surans or with mange. However, the absence of scales and 

 broken hair shafts differentiate it from the former; the 

 eczema and presence of the mange mite suffice to distinguish 

 mange from it. 



Treatment. — While general alopecia usually leaves of itself 

 in a few weeks, provided the patient and skin are given good 

 care, the local form is often quite obstinate and frequently 

 incurable. Fluids containing alcohol and some irritant are 

 generally recommended. Tinctiu-e of cantharides (1 to 5 

 alcohol), tincture of iodin (1 to 1 to 5 alcohol), and creolin 

 (1 to 10 to 20 alcohol) are examples. 



HAIRLESS PIGS. 



Definition. — ^A generalized alopecia occm:ring in newborn 

 pigs of sows afflicted with goitre. 



Occurrence. — In some parts of the country large numbers 

 of hairless pigs are born each spring. It has been estimated 

 that nearly one million pigs are lost annually in the state of 

 Montana alone from this cause. 



Etiology. — ^As far as is known the cause is goitre which 

 affects both sows and young pigs. The pigs born of gilts 

 are more often affected than from older sows. 



Symptoms. — Hairless pigs are of normal weight and size 

 and are usually carried the full period of gestation or often 

 a week beyond it. The degree of hairlessness is very varied. 

 Some are born absolutely hairless with a smooth, shiny, bald 

 skin, except for a few hairs around the eyes and nose. Others 

 have a little hair. The hoofs of hairless pigs are thin-walled 

 and undeveloped. It is not uncommon that full hair-coated 

 and hairless pigs occur in the same litter. The hairless pig, 

 if born alive, usually lives only a few homs. 



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