358 SWINE PRACTICE 



moved. A semi-elliptical portion of the skin should be removed from 

 either side of the original incision so that the margin can be approxi- 

 mated by sutures. If the involved gland be extensively swollen it 

 may be advisable to pack the wound; otherwise, it should be painted 

 with tincture of iodin and drainage provided for and the wound 

 closed by continuous sutures. A protecting coating of collodion or 

 other substance will be found of value in preventing infection. The 

 animal should be placed in clean quarters and provided with whole- 

 some food and water. 



Operation to Remove Swirls 



A swirl is an irregular whorl of hair or bristles that usually oc- 

 curs on the back, loin or croup of swine. Some pure-bred associations 

 disqualify swine that have swirls. If swine with swirls are otherwise 

 eligible for registry and are good individuals this disqualifying fac- 

 tor may be removed. 



Such cases should be operated upon before maturity to avoid the 

 development of scar tissue. The patient should be restrained in a 

 crate or upon an improvised table. The swirl and the surrounding 

 area should be cleaned and painted with tincture of iodin. By the 

 use of a sharp scalpel an elliptical incision is made through the skin 

 around the swirl. The long diameter of the ellipse being parallel with 

 the median line of the body. The incision should be made obliquely 

 through the skin in such a manner that the margins of the ellipse are 

 of the same obliquity and can be overlapped without causing a ridge. 

 The oblique margins are then approximated by interrupted sutures 

 and supported by sutures well back of the incisions. The operative 

 wound is painted with tincture of iodin and covered by a protecting 

 layer of collodion and the animal placed in clean quarters where the 

 possibility of infection will be reduced to a minimum. 



OBSTETRICS 



The characteristics of the breeds of swine are being constantly 

 changed and the type of any pure-bred hog is materially different 

 from the original wild hog. The changes incidental to the building 

 of breed types have been, in some instances, at the expense of char- 

 acteristics that insured the preservation of the species. The original 

 wild hog and, in fact, the razor back type of today, have little if any 



