34 Veterinary Medicine. 



the bacillus in the bodies of mice, rabbits, or pigeons, or on the 

 feet of those animals, of men, dogs, birds, and vermin. We may 

 add the distribution of infection in dried butcher's scraps used 

 in pig feeding, and in uncooked scraps from the ' kitchen or in 

 hotel swill. 



It has been noted that the highest mortality prevails in hot 

 summer weather, in damp seasons, and in narrow, confined, 

 badly ventilated pens. Under such circumstances the introduc- 

 tion of a diseased pig will lead to the infection of most of the 

 others in a few hours. Infection is quite as prompt through 

 public pens in stock yards and fairs, and in public conveyances 

 (cars, stock wagons, steamboats, ferry boats, etc.) and public 

 highways. 



Symptoms. After a period of incubation of three days or more 

 the subject is seized with shivering, the limbs are hot and cold 

 alternately, respiration and heart beats are accelerated, the mu- 

 cous membranes assume a dark violet tint and the rectal tempera- 

 ture rises to 104" to 108° F. From the first the pig tends to bury 

 itself under the litter, and refuses to move unless absolutely forced 

 to do so, and then only with painful grunts, swaying and stagger- 

 ing limbs (especially the hind ones), and straight drooping tail. 

 There is inappetence, but thirst remains, and the bowels are at 

 first costive, the manure being covered with a film of mucous or 

 even streaks of blood ; later they become relaxed and diarrhoea 

 becomes often a prominent symptom. The pig seems to suffer 

 and often squeals when handled, and he may give a weak, dry 

 cough. The external inguinal glands may often be felt percep- 

 tibly enlarged. The red discoloration of the skin appears early 

 and extends and deepens to the end in fatal cases. It may be of 

 a bright red, or of a bluish red, violet or black. The first indica- 

 tions appear as spots, by preference around the roots of the ears, 

 on the breast and abdomen, inside the arms and thighs, and in 

 the perineum. These isolated spots run together into great 

 patches, which extend over the whole ventral aspect of the body, 

 and may cover the entire dorsal aspect as well. In some instances 

 the skin is swollen and retains an impression made by the finger. 



Course. The disease may reach a fatal termination in twelve 

 hours : more commonly it endures for forty-eight hours, and at 

 times it will last for four, five or six days. In the most rapidly 



