140 CAR!' \\l 1 AIAXACI'IMI-A"! i)K SWINI',. 



How to Spay Sows. 



They sliould be ^pa\eil under six months ol age. This requires two attendants; 

 one holding the front feet forward, and the other the hind feet back, placing the 

 sow on her right side. The hair should be chaved off the spot where the incision 

 is to lie made (a little back of the last rili. and al^out midway up and down), then 

 cut a gash about one-half an inch deep and two to three inches long, up and down; 

 slip the flesh back each way about an inch, making a njund gash, or wide incision, 

 then turn the knife and stick tlie blade straight in gently, deep enough to go through 

 the peritoneal lining, m- civering of the bowel, at the upper corner of the incision; 

 then put tile left iore-liiiHer in, and with the right fore-finger tear the hole 

 large enough to allnw wnrking ronm for tlie fingers; feel inside near the liack of 

 the first two lingers of tlie left hand for the "o\-ary," a little knotty lump, which 

 cannot be mistaken, for there arc no others like it within reach; but if it is not 

 found, as is sometimes the ca^e, then feel for the tubes or womb, which is called 

 pig-bag. iVt the end of these tubes are found the ovaries, which can be pinched off 

 with a thumb and linger without much danger of causing any hemmorrhage or 

 permanent injury. 



After these have been removed, slack up tlie upper hind leg, so as to close the 

 gash, and sew up with twi] or three stitches, taking good hold, but going only skin 

 deep. Apply Healing Oil over the wound, after the stitching has been completed. 

 Ifealing Oil should also be freely applied to the operator's hand, knife, and seat of 

 operation, to a\'oid any infection. 



CASTRATION. 



Pigs should be castrated at from two to three weeks old. Xever delay it later 

 than the age of four weeks. This cperation should not be performed in cold, damp 

 weather. 



Give your hogs the iiest of care and attention, for without these the finest bred 

 hogs in the land will soon degenerate and become onlv scrubs. 



Sec Prcsaipfii'ii Xo. 173, f'ligc 182. 



FARROWING. 



The sow should ha\e a quiet, dry, warm place and plenty of bediliiig. Rich food 

 should not be fed fur a few days before and after farrowing. 



GESTATION. 



The average period of gestation in a sow is four months. This \'aries some- 

 times several days. Whene\er you ha^•e a good breeding sow keep her as long as 

 you can, as young sows are often bad mothers. A sow will remain a good breeder 

 for about eight years, unless she becomes overloaded with fat. This should be 

 guarded against. 



DISEASES OF SWINE 



Diseases of swine are usually classed as infectious and contagious. The infec- 

 tious form is known as Epizootic Catarrh. The contagious form usually appears as 

 Hog Cholera, Pneunicenteritis. 



In the care of swine the pici'cii: iuii of disease is of the utmost importance. They 

 are indeed subject to comparati\-ely few .ailments; but these few are generally of the 

 most serious kind. In such cases the great dilficulty is in administering the medi- 

 cine, as the animals are usually too sick to take it in their feed. For this reason it is 

 much more important to keep hogs in a healthy condition, and prevent them from 

 having disease than it is ti;> treat them after they have been taken sick. 



ABORTION IN SOWS. 



Abortion in snws may Ije dnided iiU'i two forms, inf.jctinus .abortii.m and acci- 

 dental abortion ; either one is a loss and a detriment to the stock owner. It is 

 pretty thoroughly understood that the infectious form is the one which produces 

 the greatest loss. Accidental abortion in sows may be brought on b\- injuries usually 

 received by sows heavy with pig passing to and from pens or pastures in which 

 there might be sills or boards under gates which they are compelled to either jump 

 o\er, or drag themseUes over, in this heavy pregnant condition, infectious abortion 



