Operations and Minor Ailments 421 
sow’s belly to which pus-forming germs gain access. Such 
wounds, if treated immediately with an antiseptic solu- 
tion, may cause no further trouble if the pigs are pre- 
vented from repeating the offense. On examination it will 
usually appear that the pigs which are most pugnacious 
have several teeth which are considerably longer than 
normal, Not infrequently these irritate the lips of the 
pigs, so that they do not care to suckle as normal pigs 
would, and the result is that when the others suckle, 
these want to prevent them from doing so. A small pair 
of pruning shears or dental clippers may be used, and the 
teeth removed to the level of the others. This is but 
little trouble, and it should be attended to soon after the 
pigs are born, to avoid having to treat wounds later on. 
MILK FEVER 
It sometimes happens that a large quantity of milk 
will be present in the udders of sows before the pigs are 
farrowed. This may be due to too stimulating a ration 
during the gestation period, and it is sometimes due to the 
failure of the sow to deliver the pigs when they are ready. 
Partial paralysis or abnormal condition of the genital 
organs may make parturition unduly late. 
The approach of trouble may be noticed if the sows have 
milk in the udders more than two or three hours before 
the pigs arrive. One or more sections of the udder will 
be abnormally full, then gradually harden, and finally 
the hardened area extends until the entire udder may be 
involved. The milk should be drawn from the teats which 
are beginning to harden, or if the hardening has already 
become general, the udder should be treated with castor 
oil, which has been heated to a temperature as warm as 
