URO-GENITAL SYSTEM 



177 



From the above it will be seen that the total solids of sow's milk 

 are relatively high. The fat globules of sow's milk are only about 

 one-fourth the size of those of cow's milk, which renders sow's milk 

 more readily digestible. By a limited number of experiments, it 

 has been found that by increasing the albuminous constituents in 

 food there will be an increased production of milk and also an in- 

 creased percentage of fat in the milk. The mammary secretion usual- 

 ly continues for from ten to fifteen weeks. 



Swine are prone to various disease conditions of the organs consti- 

 tuting the uro-genital system. This may be due to the nature of their 

 food stuff, which is often fermented or putrid. 



Kidneys 



Kidney diseases are especially common in swine. Frequently the 

 pathologic condition of the kidneys is not of sufficient intensity to 



Fig. 35. KidEcy of twine. Snrfaoo and cection. (Ortertag.) 



produce recognizable symptoms, but a diseased condition is easily de- 

 tected by autopsy or on inspection of the carcasses of dressed hogs. 



MALFORMATIONS 



There may be a total absence of one or the other kidney. A horse- 

 shoe-shaped kidney is also occasionally observed. Floating kidney 

 has been reported, but from the number of recorded cases the con- 

 dition is relatively rare. 



HYDBONEPHEOSIS 



Hydronephrosis, or cystic kidney, is of frequent occurrence in 

 swine. It is very commonly encountered by the food inspector. 



