SCROFULOUS DISEASE IN PIGS. 
261 
The cellular tissue becomes infiltrated, and the infiltration 
solidifies and grows hard, and passes into the lardaceous 
state, having its ordinal characters. This is not inevitable ; 
though it is rare to find the skeleton diseased without the 
tissue in some part partaking of it. 
Causes and Nature of the Disease. — To produce and main- 
tain parallel effects on a great number of individuals, causes 
must exist which have no gregarious or limited action. Among 
the number, one of the most powerful is consanguinity; then 
come alimentation and the atmospheric influences. It seems 
that pigs are more subject to the first (consanguinity). 
When first we introduce a new breed, the offspring are 
produced at first under ordinary fecundity, having all the 
form and vigour of the race ; but should we neglect to pro- 
cure fresh males, either of the same or another breed, the 
progeny, breeding in and in, will soon become examples of 
the ill-result of consanguinity. First, we remark that the 
female who used to have ten at a litter, produces now but 
two or three. These may still be robust enough ; but should 
the warning not be taken by the breeder, and he goes on to 
practice in this consanguinity, the young will be born, not 
only in small litters, but be found slight and rickety, and 
tardy and unhealthy in their growth ; and should not great 
attention and choice feeding have the effect of correcting 
this, tubercles will soon manifest themselves, and death be- 
come premature. After this manner (of consanguinity) 
will the finest males and the most healthy females produce 
naught save very scanty litters, and scrofulous young. Intro- 
duce, however, a male, not near so fine, but of a different 
breed, the same females who had had no more than three at 
a litter, and those rickety, will have ten at a time, which 
afford evident traces of the father in their form and character, 
and skin, &c., so quickly does consanguinity manifest its 
effects, so quickly does the introduction of strange blood pro- 
duce its vivifying influence. And with such males as have 
become nearly infecund, begetting produce doomed to die 
early, place only females derived from crosses, and they will 
get a numerous and vigorous progeny. 
It was from observation of these facts that I perceived how 
necessary it was, before fresh blood was introduced into a 
locality, to ascertain if the breed could maintain its purity 
and durability under the influences acting upon it. Breeders 
are struck with the external characters of the breed, with the 
beauty of the produce, and they desire to make this their 
stock. So long as they suck their mother, the produce are 
fine; but once weaned, unless by feeding and well-looking 
xxvi. 35 
