SWINE GBOKGE B. DAY. 97 



may be lost. The disease rarely occurs when the little pigs 

 can get outdoor exercise, but is quite common among winter 

 litters which are kept confined in pens. Exercise is essen- 

 tial, even if the feeder is compelled to spend a few minutes 

 several times a day with a whip, to force the little pigs to 

 run about in the pen. The question of exercise is dealt with 

 under Feeding and Management of Young Pigs. 



A sow will very rarely eat her pigs when she has been fed 

 and managed as described in a previous chapter. If she 

 acquires the habit, there is a danger that she will continue to 

 eat her pigs, no matter how she is managed. Unless she is 

 a very valuable sow, it will be found safer to fatten her and 

 sell her to the butcher after her first offense. 



Skin diseases of various kinds are quite common, and 

 some of them are very obstinate. If taken in time, they can 

 usually be cured. Washing the pigs with a two per cent, 

 solution of creolin, or with some one of the well known dips, 

 will usually be found beneficial, especially if followed by the 

 application of an ointment made of equal parts, by weight, 

 of benzoinated lard and flowers of sulphur. 



Diarrhoea, sometimes called "white scours," in sucking 

 pigs, may come from damp pens as already noted, or it 

 may come from a too liberal supply of the mother's milk. 

 Usually when it comes from the milk, the difficulty can be 

 rectified by changing the feed of the sow. Changing from 

 sloppy food to dry food will sometimes help, and the feed- 

 ing of sulphur to the sow is also beneficial. A teaspoonful 

 in the sow's food, three times a day for a few days, will 

 often help to remedy matters. Sometimes it is necessary to 

 give the young pigs castor oil, a teaspoonful being a fair 

 dose for a suckiiig pig. Maintaining healthful conditions 

 is the great secret of preventing these troubles. 



Sometimes the tusks of the little pigs grow very long and 

 sharp and so irritate the sow that she either refuses to allow 

 the pigs to suck, or the irritation causes an injurious change 

 in the milk. When this cause is suspected, the mouths of 



