The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-03-08
Blind stacsers in Hogs.

Blind staggers is a somewhat common dis
ease Of tho hog, or rather it is a $ ymptom
When sluggishness is observed in any partic'
ular animal of the herd, with want OF appe.
tite, it is an indication that ought not to be
neglected for an hour. Ii the hog is eff its
feed it should be separated from the herd
and given especial care. Prompt action in
quarantining a single animal may save a
whole herd. Blind staggers in the hog is
caused by what is ordinarily termed bill
iousness. From impaired digestion, conses-
ton of the liver, or oth7Y causes, a portion
of bile is taken up by the blood, and the
blind staggers'' is. simply an exaggerated
Swimming Of the hcud.' Tho whites of the
eyes p~resenta jaundiced appearance, ana the
tongue has II dirty yellow coat, darker in the
middle than at the edges; the discharS 6
show that the bowels are constipated usu-
ally, but sometimes there is diarrllea and
high-colored urine. This complaint usually
attacks hogs soon after the fattcning pro-
cess, or what is called fall feeding begins. II
tho 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 staggers are
likely to develop in the first two weeks. The
sudden change of diet deranges the stomach
and this is the result.
Alittle prudence will ordinarily prevent il.
The grain feeding should begin while the
hogs are yet in pasture, and gradually in
crease from day todHy. This disorder rarely
or never attacks fat hogs. The custom from
time immemoriul has been to cut off The tail.
split the skin on the forehead, and put in salt
or turpentine. II the attack is Il 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 ii
will take some time to get over it. II the
disease Is fully developed, the animal will
stagger nearly In Il circle for three or foul
times, and fall down, getting up in q weak,
dazed sort Of way, only to repeat the stagger.
The proper thing to do is to let the stout man
straddle the hog while it is standing UP, and
slip the moose of a stout cord or small rope
over tho 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 and pull it well out, holding the
head up, and from a paper or spoon in the
llSut lttHu pun a. iuAi A'i
calomel as far back on the tongue as possible
and let the animal so.
A stick four or i've inches long and an
inch in diameter may be set upright between
the Jaws to prevent 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 calo-
mel while it would yet cat Il little meal or
drink a little milk. This medicine is taste
less, and for this reason can often be given in
food when more nauseous medicine would be
refused, and this is a point not TO be despised
in treating hogs. This dose is all that need
be given in 4 great majority OF cases, but ii
will be prudent to adda couple of tablespoon.
fuls OF salts the next day, or as soon as the
animal shows any desire to cat, and if neces.
sary this amount may be divided into two or
three doses. At tho time of year when fatten-
ing begins, if any of the hogs do not take
kindly to the corn, and 1t IS often the case, it
will be found Of great benefit to give one-third
CT a level teaspoonful of ealomel each morn
hibit any signs OF worms add nearly as much
~santoine to each dose. In Il few days there
will be a marked improvement in their eat
ing, and they will be lis lively as a six weeks
Dig, and there will be no further fear Of blind
MISREPRESENTATION Agriculturist.