The Hickman courier., 1877-12-14
Hog Cholera.

disease, hog cholora, and measles, the
latter name very wrongfulIy applied. 1t
i. a subject respecting which there is q
great diversity of opinion. Some regard
ing it as typhus, Others as ANTHRAX, hence
the various appellations. 1t is undoubt-
edlyssa blood disease.
It is malady that appears first to al
feet the digestive organs, and then the
blsod undergoes changes favorable trans
undations, which occur in different parts
of the body. BY most authorities it is
considered contagious.
Symptoms: Tbepremonitory signs oc.
cur late, are very transient, and are sell
dom observed; usually the death of one
or more pigs under mysterious circum-
stances, first arrests attention. Some
may then be noticed to be dull, not to
seek food or water, but to creep beneath
the straw or any dark place, seekine.quiet
and isolation from the rest, carrying the
head low and ears dropping. =
Signs of abdominal pains are ofteg~ell
marked, and there Is dispositioDfo he
on the belly, with fore feet ouD6retched.
In some cases there is graf cerebral
disturbance, and il otheDstuPor, so that
they may be either wi1 and frantic, and
utter cries, or else quite unconscious.
Vomiting frequSntly occurs, the retch>
ing being oftrn quite violent, and food
may no ,0mited. or mucous and bile
only.
N the early stages the feces are Of
normal consistence and the urine pale.
Aftera time diarrhea sets in, and the ex-
crement is then dark or black colored,
and extremely offensive. There iAa sin
gular jerking or spasmOdic breathing,
complicated by CONGESTION of the lungs
and usually painful, irritating cough,
which increases the general weakness.
Great weakness of the hind parts Is
often noticed from the commencement of
the attack, which increases as the disease
advances. The animal stsggers when
moving about, its limbs cross each other
and often at last are completely para
lyzsd 1t is often found that the crea
ture cannot scream, and there is present
a subdued hacking cough. The blood
does not flow freely if vein be opened,
and ecchymosis occurs over the whole
body. The discolOration of the
skin and mucous Mountaineering
gesting 50 many names for the disease
commences sometime before death, and
occurs especially on the belly, inside Of
the thighs and fore legs, and behind the
ears. Where the skin Is thinnest it is
especially noticeable. The red or pur-
plish color disappears wherever the skin is
pressed, except in parts where any ex.
travasation of the blood has occurred
In rapid cases the mucous membrane is
of q blush red color, and in chronic cases
it is of dirty yellow color. The tenn
perature of the body Is at first increased,
but afterwards is lowered. Slight forms
now and then appear, which consist OF
discoloration of the skin and loss of ap-
petite, extending over a few days, when
recovery follows; but in severe cases the
animals generally succomb in a very short
space of time from the commencement OF
the attack.
Post-mortem appearances. The skin
is black and blue, as if the animal had
been bruised during lie. The capillaries
and moderate sized veins Of the skin and
sub-cutaneous tissue are dark-colored
and gorged with blood. A yellow serum
is apt to accumulate wherever there il
ramifed rednes3. The serous and mucous
membranes are studded with ecchymosis
which are most developed as a rule in
the thoracic organs. Impac.ion of solid
material in the intestines is frequently
observed. The liver and spleen are
usually congested and of q dark color
and the parenchyma of the liver more
congested. The blood is dark, seems fluid
and congulstea very slowly.
Treatment-When the disease breaks
out, keep the animals on low diet, and
promote action of the bowels by clysters
and give then an emetic-white bellebore
10 10 grains, or sulphate of zinc, 5 to IL
grains, followed by pugatives. The fol
lowing drench would be suitable EPSON
salts, , to 4 ounces and gsntlan ginger
in powder, to . drahms, in about 2
pints of water The doses must be reg
ulated accordingto the size Of the animal.
The medicine should be given before
diarrhes sets in. Moderate exercise,
fresh air, and Swinging or slucing the
animal over with cold water, are meas
ures to be recommeuded.
Preventive measures should consist OF
cautieus feeding in young and growing
animals, wholesome vegtsblS diet, and a
sparing allowance of only Wsll-cooked
animal food strict attention TO cleanliness,
and separation of the affected from the
healthy animals. The sulphite or hyp9-
sulphite of sodium, in about l TO
drachm 1osea, FIVE OF six times n day
would act very well. 1t could be given
in little iced if the animal would take