518 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



with the disease, hogs eating carcasses of animals that ndve died 

 with the disease, foods containing sputum of the human affected 

 with tuberculosis, and Uke causes. 



Prevention consists in the avoidance of all foods containing the 

 tubercular germs and in providing quarters similar to those 

 suggested for hog cholera, for poorly ventilated, dark, damp, 

 and filthy quarters furnish ideal quarters for the breeding of 

 tuberculosis germs. The direct rays of the sun and cleanliness 

 provide conditions impossible for the lodgment of these germs. 



Care of a tubercular herd. — Tuberculosis in swine is considered 

 as not curable. Furthermore, its detection is often difficult. 

 A hog may be affected with the disease and not show the mai'ks 

 of it until after he is slaughtered. As a rule, pigs are more subject 

 to the disease than older animals, and weak animals more hable 

 to attack than strong and vigorous ones. The difficulty of de- 

 tecting the disease renders the care of the tuberculous animal haz- 

 ardous. The general signs are coughing, losing in weight rather 

 than gaining, and a swelling of the glands about the neck. When 

 the disease is discovered, all animals showing external indications 

 should be immediately destroyed and the carcasses burned. The 

 remainder of the herd should be put upon the market at once and 

 passed upon by a government inspector. Any animals that are 

 so diseased as to render their carcasses unfit for food will be con- 

 demned. Not all hogs affected with tuberculosis are condemned. 

 When the disease is present only in the first stages and only a few 

 of the organs of the body are affected, these parts only are con- 

 demned ; whereas if the disease is general throughout the car- 

 cass, the entire animal is condemned. 



After an outbreak of tuberculosis and the animals have been 

 disposed of, the quarters should be thoroughly disinfected. To 

 do this, use a five per cent carbolic acid solution, or a 1 to 1000 

 corrosive sublimate solution, and then whitewash with fresh lime. 

 The pastures and lots which are exposed to the sun are not so seri- 

 ous a source of infection as the buildings. When at all possible. 



