Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-24
Hog Cholera.

The Massachusetts, Ploughman says that
hog cholera is regarded as pestilential or
epizo6tic in character, but has been found
when there was no apparent means Of com.
munication, and where malarious influences
seemed to account for il.
When first attacked the animal is dull and
loses appetite, but the thirst increases. Di-
arrh@a exists with green or dark, and fetid
discharges. In fatal cases constipation en-
sues, with signs of pain and bilious vomiting.
At FIRST the urine is light cOlored and
abundant, afterward dark and scanty. There
is difficulty of breathing aud cough. The
hog loses flesh, becomes weak in the hind
quarters, and dies iu one or two days to
three weeks.
A post mortem examination will show
congestion irritation and inflammation Of the
intcstical canal. The large intestines are
impacted with hardened i@ces and very red
or purple. The blood 10 most cases will be
found to have passed from the mucus mem-
brane and appears in Olots in the bowels.
Fresh bile will be found in the upper part
Of the small intestines, that inclines to pass
forward into the stomach rather than back
ward into the larger intestines. The mes
enteric glands will be greatly enlarged, the
stomach showing sighs Of congestion, some
patches containing clots Of blood and a large
quantity Of bilious matter. The liver will
be found engorged in most cases, and so will
the spleen, while the kidneys are uniformly
healthy
The disease is confined to the abdominal
cavity in some cases, but in q majority in
Aammation has seized upon the thorax and
the lungs, the latter being hepatized in some
cases. Pleurisy has apparently existed in
some instances, and the Inflammation often
extends through the whole length of the
trachea and especially in the laryn1, which
appears congestOd and swollen.
1t will thus be seen that the disease pre-
scnts variety OF symptoms, and yet as these
| appear III NihSAShb otaeSoi thSio 10 oehOiOue
similarity to pronounce it essentially the
same The secretions of the liver are first
suspended, then the bowels are affected, then
the respiratory organs are inaamed and seri-
GUS effusious take place. The animal dies
of what is called "cholera" sometimes before
the disease has gone beyond the intestinal
canal, but it more frequently lives till the
Inflammation has entered the thorSx, so that
the coughing and hard breathing will be as
cribed to disease ofthe lungs. Some live ever
beyond this. The term "cholera" docs not
strictly apply to it, as that is a disease which
implies discharge of bile, but as this term
has become nearly universal, it mast be ac'
cepted probably and perpetuated.
Animals that are exposed to sudden chan
ges and to cold nights are most subjected tC
it. Hogs should bc kept dry, clean and
comfortable. Separate the sick from th'
we'll. When it FIRST appears with free dark
discharges from the bowels, give in the food
two drachms of bi-carbonate of soda dissolved
in milk, aud mixed in a warm mash of bran
Keep cinders or ashes within reach, chal
ears of corn almost to coal and give then
to cat. 1t isn not easy to give medicine t.
swine except as they will take it in food.