SWINE MANAGEMENT. 



37 



INTESTINAL WORMS. 



Litestinal worms are common in hogs and are particularly injurious 

 to growing pigs. Insufficiently fed, neglected pigs living in dirty 

 pens and yards, fed from filthy troughs, drinking contaminated water, 

 bathing in old hog wallows, and rooting and sleeping in manure piles 

 and stack bottoms soon become infested with worms. Such pigs do 

 not thrive, but develop into pot-belhed, profitless runts. Pens should 

 be kept clean and dry and the manure frequently removed. 



Mixtures containing charcoal, copperas, etc., such as that described 

 on page 14, are believed by some to be of value as preventives and 

 destroyers of worms, but their usefulness probably depends upon 

 their general effect on the condition of the pig and not upon their 

 action on the worms. Other things being equal, a pig in good 

 condition is better able to resist the attacks of worms than one that 

 is not m good condition. Mineral mixtures may, therefore, by 

 helping to balance the ration, tend to increase the powers of resistance 

 to the ill effects of worms and other parasites? They should, how- 

 ever, be classed as tonics or conditioners rather than as worm pre- 

 ventives or destroyers. 



Fig. 15,— The eomrnon roundwormg of swine (Ascaris suum). a, Male; b, female. 



