46 SWINE PRACTICE 



and incidentally observing the character of the feces, the nature of 

 the feed, condition of housing and general sanitation. 



HISTORY OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE 



During the time that the foregoing general inspection is being 

 made, or immediately thereafter, the history of the affected animal or 

 animals should be obtained. Each veterinarian has, no doubt, ac- 

 quired a method of obtaining information from his client. 



The exact history of diseased conditions in swine is of paramount 

 importance, particularly in differentiating between infectious diseases. 

 It is always essential to determine whether or not the swine in 

 question have been medicated or whether they have been immunized 

 against hog cholera, swine plague or other infections and the time 

 of immunization. It is conceded that the simultaneous immunization 

 of swine against hog cholera will produce lesions that are usually 

 attributed to hog cholera and if such immunization has been done 

 recently and the attending veterinarian fail to obtain that informa- 

 tion, he would probably diagnose any existing condition as hog 

 cholera from the autopsy findings in such animals. The history of 

 the case should include the length of time that the disease has 

 existed, the symptoms evidenced, the nature of the feed, the number 

 of animals affected and their age, because these are all questions of 

 vital importance in the diagnosis of swine diseases. 



After the history of the case has been ascertained a careful ex- 

 amination of the diseased animal should be made to determine the 

 present condition. This examination should include a careful in- 

 .spection of every region of the body, manipulation of all available 

 parts of the bodj% especially any portion that is apparently abnor- 

 mal. Allowance must be made for nervous, irritable animals. Ex- 

 amination by percussion and auscultation is of less value in swine 

 than in most other animals; however, by experience, particularly 

 in bacon hogs, a fairly accurate examination can be made of tlie 

 thoracic viscera. 



ATTITUDE OP ANIMAL 



The general attitude of the diseased animal is significant and some- 

 times is of value in making a diagnosis. Swine affected with pneu- 

 monia are usually found lying down, except when the lung capacity 

 is seriously diminished, when they will assume a sitting posture. Un- 



