448 
C. D. M'GILVRAY. 
Once the outbreaks became manifest, the infection was spread 
in many and varied ways. Among the possible means by which 
the infection was conveyed from place to place, which came under 
our notice, were: By direct contact, that is, diseased or con¬ 
tact hogs having been introduced from some of the other prem¬ 
ises, or by the premises being in close proximity to each other. 
Evidences were found of the possibility of the infection having 
been carried by means of dogs and where suspicion of this was 
aroused, steps were taken to prevent it. It was also brought to our 
notice that certain birds, especially crows and pigeons, appears to 
be responsible in spreading the disease from place to place. Sus¬ 
picion was also aroused in many cases as to the infection having 
been introduced onto premises by the feet of visitors and others. 
Again, suspicion was also aroused as to the disease being car¬ 
ried in small streams which infected other premises through which 
the same stream had its course and on which piggeries were 
located. 
The disease, in the outbreaks in question, appeared in both 
the acute and chronic types. At the beginning of the outbreaks 
the acute type was the most in evidence and was more marked in 
severity, becoming less so with the lapse of time and approach 
of winter. This depended no doubt upon the virulence of type 
or strain of infection, which appeared to become weakened or 
attenuated with the lapse of time. 
In the acute type the symptoms observed were, sluggishness; 
capricious appetite; gumming or adhesions of the eye-lids; acce¬ 
lerated breathing, associated with cough in some cases; the ap¬ 
pearance of reddened or purplish blotches on the skin especially 
round the region of the ears and neck, the under surface of the 
abdomen and the inner thighs. The bowels, in some cases, were 
constipated, while in others diarrhoea was present. Progressive 
weakness, uncertain gait, terminating in loss of power of hind 
limbs, was frequently noticeable. In the acute cases, affected ani¬ 
mals rapidly succumbed to the disease. Hogs ranging in age 
from two to six months seemed to be more severely affected and 
more rapidly succumbed to the disease than those older. 
