424 Western Live-stock Management 



to the lungs and pleura, and germ infection may follow, 

 causing a thickening of these parts, so that breathing 

 becomes difficult. Spasmodic contractions will be ob- 

 served in the region of the abdomen whenever the pig 

 attempts to move rapidly. There is nothing so effective 

 in treating this difficulty as sunshine and exercise in the 

 open air and the disease is most troublesome when condi- 

 tions make this treatment difficult or impossible. In 

 acute cases, a few drops of kerosene placed in the pigs' 

 mouth or nostrils may remove a sufficient quantity of 

 mucus slightly to prolong the life of the pig, but unless 

 weather conditions make recovery possible, there is but 

 little use in this treatment. This disease is also frequently 

 brought on by damp bedding or drafty quarters. The 

 remedy for such cases is obvious. Loss from bronchial 

 pneumonia is one of the most serious obstacles to mid- 

 winter farrowing, even under most favorable conditions. 



TRIMMING FEET 



The toes of older hogs frequently become so long as to 

 throw too much of the weight on the rear part of the 

 foot, causing a straining of the tendons and the pasterns. 

 If not attended to, the pasterns may become so weak 

 that they will remain permanently broken, even when 

 the toes are leveled up. If the toes are not too long, a 

 sharp knife or a rasp may be used. If the toes have 

 become very long, a pair of blacksmith pinchers may be 

 used to take off the surplus, after which the smoothing 

 is done with a knife or rasp. This operation will prolong 

 the usefulness of a brood sow and is generally necessary 

 in fitting older hogs for showing. 



