TUBERCULOSIS IN SWINK 147 



§ 113. Symptoms. In most cases tuberculosis of the 

 pig is first recognized at the abattoir. Sometimes, however, it 

 causes local and general troubles, which vary according to the 

 organ or system attacked. The following symptoms have 

 been noted. 



Its localization in the abdominal organs causes the arrest 

 of fattening and the progressive wasting of the subject. The 

 mucous membranes become pale ; the hide becomes dirty ; 

 there is usually either constipation or diarrhoea. The animal 

 is in low spirits and remains buried in its straw for entire 

 days ; the corkscrew of its tail is straightened ; the abdomen 

 is pendulous and the eyes sunken ; palpation of the abdomen is 

 painful and may reveal more or less voluminous masses, due to 

 the changes in the mesenteric glands. It is common to find 

 glandular tumors in the submaxillary region at the level of or at 

 the thoracic inlet. In this form the malady may last several 

 months, but death supervenes rapidly if the lesions are general- 

 ized through the blood stream. Primary pulmonary' tuberculosis 

 is very rare but sooner or later lung lesions complicate abdominal 

 tuberculosis, and betray themselves at the outset by a short, dry, 

 abortive cough and by difficult respiration. The cough soon 

 becomes paroxysmal and painful and is often followed by 

 vomiting ; the respiration becomes hurried and gradually pain- 

 ful and more difficult ; wasting is very rapid and death super- 

 venes in a few weeks. 



The scrofula of swine (glandular tuberculosis) usually 

 shows itself by a puffing up of the face, which a careful exam- 

 ination shows to be lifted up bj' the subjacent glands, which 

 are enlarged, indurated, still fairly mobile and free from heat 

 or tenderness. The retro-pharyngeal, superior cervical, and 

 sublingual glands usuall5r take part in the lesion, forming a kind 

 of necklace of unequal and knotty tumors, which extend from 

 ear to ear, and become larger under the neck between the two 

 of the lower jaw. Similar tumors maj' be developed at the rami, 

 thoracic inlet, behind the shoulder or in the groin, which, as 

 they increase in size, become harder and more adherent to the 

 neighboring tissues. Sometimes, however, a slight fluctuation 

 is perceptible ; the tumor softens, then forms an abscess and 



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