SWINE DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL 191 



Epilepsy is characterized by periodic convulsions, be- 

 tween which the animal may appear normal or only 

 slightly stupid. The tendency may be congenital, or it 

 may result from an injury. In young pigs it may result 

 from an irritation due to parasitic infection or from the 

 cutting of teeth. Here again treatment consists in re- 

 moval of the cause where it is known. Cathartics should 

 be given. Cold water applied to the head of the animal 

 may give temporary relief. 



Blind staggers is a symptom rather than a disease. 

 Treatment is unsatisfactory, and unless the cause is 

 known and can be rem.oved it is generally better to kill 

 the afflicted animal. 



Diseases of the male reproductive organs. — While 

 there are a few diseases of the reproductive organs or 

 system of swine that occur frequently in the breeding 

 herd, they are not nearly of the same importance as some 

 other diseases. In the boar we find that there are several 

 contributive causes to sterility, among the more im- 

 portant being too high condition with insufficient exer- 

 cise, too much service and improper feeding. Sterility 

 may result from an injury and may not be amenable to 

 treatment, but many cases of sterility can be remedied 

 by the removal of the cause. Medicines other than 

 tonics are of little or no value. 



Among boars orchitis is not uncommon. This con- 

 sists in the inflammation of one or both testes. It is 

 generally the result of an injury or an infection. If the 

 infection results in an abscess, removal of the diseased 

 testicle is the quickest remedy. Medicinal treatment is 

 of some value. Potassium iodide administered in doses 

 twice daily for a week or 10 days may bring relief. Laxa- 



