266 SWINE PRACTICE 



also be defecation, urination, and discharge of semen. The seizures 

 are of short duration, rarely exceeding five minutes. The attacks 

 may occur in rapid succession, or considerable time may elapse be- 

 tween attacks. 



Treatment. — Treatment is of no practical value, except- to remove 

 the cause when known. The affected animals should be destroyed if 

 the seizures are frequent and severe, or in mild cases the animals 

 should be prepared for market. They should never be fused for 

 breeding, as the condition apparently is hereditary. 



ECLAMPSIA 



Two conditions may be conveniently discussed under this caption, 

 viz., dentition eclampsia and puerperal eclampsia. 



Dentition eclampsia. — This condition is relatively common in pigs. 

 It is no doubt frequently confused with epilepsy. The usual cause 

 of dentition eclampsia is irritation due to the eruption of teeth. 

 The symptoms evidenced consist of muscular twitching, champing 

 of the jaws, rolling of the eyes and convulsions, but the affected 

 animals retain consciousness. These cases may be relieved by placing 

 the affected pig in warm water, and the attacks may be prevented 

 by lancing the gums. 



Puerperal eclampsia. — This disease is sometimes observed in sows 

 at the time of, or soon after parturition. The condition may be 

 caused by auto-intoxication or uremic poisoning. There are no defin- 

 ite lesions of puerperal eclampsia. The symptoms of this condi- 

 tion consist of muscular tremors, tonic or clonic muscular spasms 

 and convulsions, but the affected animals are apparently conscious. 

 When this condition occurs during parturition it may be overcome 

 by effecting delivery promptly. Chloral hydrate in half ounce, doses 

 injected into the rectum is serviceable in overcoming the spasms. 

 Fluid extract of veratrum viride in 15-drop doses injected intra- 

 muscularly is claimed by some practitioners to give splendid results. 



PARALYSIS IN PIGS 



Paralysis in pigs is a relatively common condition and is respons- 

 ible for extensive losses. It has been more prevalent, or at least 

 more cases have been reported, in the last ten years than it was 

 previous to that time. This condition should not be confused with 

 rickets, eclampsia, or cases of lameness. Paralysis occurs in all kinds 

 of swine regardless of breed or their physical condition. One type 



