60 HWINE PRACTICE 



the dose syringe or tube method is used in drenching, to gag the 

 animal by placing a stick between the upper and lower teeth or to 

 use a speculum. The esophagus of swine is readily dilatable, and it 

 is possible for them to swallow capsules of considerable size; hence 

 fluid medicaments are more safely administered in capsules. 



Solids in the powdered form may be administered, after restraining 

 and gagging as above indicated, by the use of a powder spoon, care 

 being taken to see that the medicament is deposited well back on 

 the tongue. Such drugs, however, are best administered in capsule 

 form. Vermifuge in capsules is now available and this is a convenient 

 form in which to administer such a medicament. For the admin- 

 istration of these capsules, swine should be restrained and gagged 

 and the capsule deposited in the pharynx by a balling gun or a 

 pair of long forceps. In the administration the operator must not 

 lose sight of the fact that there is a cul-de-sac in the upper portion 

 of the pharynx and the capsule must not be deposited in that cul- 

 de-sac. The balling gun or forceps must not be forced through the 

 pharyngeal membranes or serious results will follow because vermi- 

 fuge capsules contain calomel and other chemicals that produce 

 intense inflammation when deposited in the tissues. 



THE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE 



The most convenient method of administering drugs to swine is 

 by the use of the hypodermic syringe. The active principles of many 

 of the essential drugs are now available in tablet form which when 

 dissolved are administered liypodermatically. By a careful selection 

 of hypodermic tablets the practitioner may avoid the use of drenches 

 in swine. Injections of such drugs must be made intramuscularly, 

 into the axillary space or the peritoneal cavity. Hypodermic injec- 

 tions in swine are slowly absorbed, if absorbed at all, because of 

 the subcutaneous layer of fat. Anti-hog cholera serum and virus 

 and the various bacterins are administered by means of a hypo- 

 dermic syringe. 



Intraperitoneal injection, although not a common practice, is a 

 means of medication that should be more generally employed. Swine 

 are not very susceptible to peritonitis and injections of any ordinary 

 drugs or biologies may be made without injury. Intraperitoneal 

 medication has the advantage of rapid absorption which makes this 

 method of medication advantageoiis. 



