a62 SWINE PRACTICE 



One difficulty with dealing with dystocia in sows has been the fail- 

 ure of the farmer to call the veterinarian promptly. In those cases 

 that have been in labor for twelve to twenty-four houi'S the services 

 of the practitioner will probably not be of much value, because of the 

 swollen condition of the genitals, due to infection. 



In those cases in which the genitals have not been injured or are 

 not infected, good results have been obtained by the use of pituitrin 

 extract. This product can be obtained in one-mil ampoules which 

 comprises a dose and should be injected intramuscularly. This dose 

 can be repeated in twenty to thirty minutes. Pituitrin has also been 

 reported to give good results in some of the dystocia cases. This is 

 a compound in which the active principle is ergotin, quinin and urea 

 hydrochlorid. The pituitrin is supplied in one-mil ampoules which 

 constitutes a dose, or it may be obtained in larger containers. This 

 product should be injected into the muscle and the dose can be re- 

 peated every twenty or thirty minutes. It will be found advan- 

 tageous to dilate the genitals with warm water or an effusion of slip- 

 pery elm bark. 



It is difficult to assist in difficult parturition in the sow because 

 of the smallness of the vaginal canal. Some practitioners employ a 

 small boy with long fingers and a slender hand as an assistant iu 

 these eases. Instrumentation in dystocia of sows has not been very 

 successful with the majority of general practitioners. The style of in- 

 rtrument selected varies with different operators, but Day's pig for- 

 ceps or Colson's improved pig forceps are probably as well adapted 

 as any that are on the market. In fact, some practitioners use a loop 

 of wire passed through a small pipe and obtain good results. 



The sow should be placed in as clean quarters as can be provided, 

 and the external genitals washed with warm antiseptic solution prior 

 to the application of lubricants or the use of forceps. After the field 

 and operator's hands have been properly prepared, one or more fin- 

 gers may be inserted into the vaginal canal for the purpose of direct- 

 ing the forceps in a fishing game of chance which is sometimes 

 successful. 



CESAREAN SECTION 



This operation is frequently successfully performed on sows if the 

 operation is done promptly in dystocia cases. Good results will prob- 

 ably not be obtained if the patient has been in labor for more than 

 eighteen hours, and the operation will be more successful if performed 



