The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-04-03
Blind staggers in Hogs.

Diihu oiaRReFs III HOGS
Blind staggers is a somewhat common
disease of the hog, or rather it is a symp-
tom. When sluggishness is observed in
any particular animal of the herd, with
want of appetite, it is an indication that
ought not to be neglected for an hour.
If the hog is "of its feed" it should be
separated from the herd and given espe.
cial care. Prompt action in quarantin-
ing single animal may save a whole
herd. Blind staggers in the hog is
caused by what is ordinarily termed bill
iousness. From impaired digestion,
songestion of the liver, or other causes,
portion of bile is taken up by the
blood, and the "blind staggers" is sim.
ply an exaggerated swimming OF the
head" The whites of the ewes present
jaundiced appearance. and the tongue
has dirty yellow coat, darker in the
middle than at the edges; the discharges
show that the bowels are Constructed
usually, but sometimes there is darrhea
and high colored urine. This complaint
usually attacks hogs soon after the fat
tenlng pro css, or what is called fall
feeding, begins. If the animals have
been on pasture through the summer,
with little or no corn, and are then put
in the fattening pen and given all the
corn they will eat, blind stageers
are likely to develop in the first
two weeks. The sudden change of
diet deranges the stomach, and this is
the result. A little prudence will ordi-
narily prevent it. The grain feeding
should begin while the hogs are yet in
pasture, and gradually increase from day
to day. This disorder rarely or never
attacks fat hogs. The custom from time
immemorial has been to cut off the tail,
split the skin on the forehead, and put
in salt or turpentine. If the attack is a
severe one this treatment will kill the
hog every time. If the engagement of
the liver Is not very great it may survive
the treatment, but it will take some time
to get over it. the disease is fully de-
veloped. the animal will stagger around
nearly in circle for three or four times
and fall down, getting up in a weak,
dazed sort of way, only to repeat the
stagger. The proper thing to do is to
let stout man straddle the hog while it
is standing up, and slip the moose of q
stout cord or small rope over the nose
and upper jaw, and another cord over
the lower jaw. With these pull the
mouth open. Take hold of the tongue
with the left hand aud pull it we'll out,
holding the head up, and from paper
or spoon in the right hand pour a full
half teaspoon ul of calomel as far back
on the tongue as possible, and let
the animal go. A stick four or five
inches long and an inch in diameter may
be set upright between the jaws to pre-
vent injury to the hand of the operator,
but will be found more or less in the
way. II the animal has been closely
watched, however, there has probably
been found opportunity to give it this
dose of calomel while it would vet eat
little meal or drink little milk. This
medicine is tasteless, and for this reason
can often be given in food when more
nauseous medicine would be refused, and
this is point not to be despised in treat
ing hogs. This dose is all that need be
given in great majority of cases, but
it VII be prudent to add a couple of
tablespoonfuls of salts the next day, or
as soon as the animal shows any desire
to eat, and if necessary this amount may
be divided into two or three doses. At
the time of year when fattening be gins.
if any Of the hogs do not take kindly to
the corn, and it is often tie case, it will
be found of great benefit to give one
third of level teaspoonful of calomel
each morning for three or four morn
ings, and if they exhibit any signs of
worms, add nearly as much santonine to
each dose. In few days there will be
a marked improvement in their eating,
and they will be as lively as a six weeks
pig, and there will be no further fear of
blind staggers. Agrieulturist.