The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-03-07
Blind staggers In Hogs.

Blind staggers is somewhat common
disease of the hog, or rather it is 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 ''off its feedn it should be
separated from the herd and given espe-
cial care. Prompt action in quarantin-
ing single animal may save whole
herd. Blind staggers in the hog is
caused by what is ordinarily termed bill
iousness. From impaired digestion,
congestion 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 eyes present
a jaundiced appearance, and the tongue
has dirty yellow coat, darker in the
middle than at the edges; the discharges
show that the bowels are constipated
usually, but sometimes there is darrhea
and high. colored urine. This complaint
usually attacks hogs soon after the fat;
tening pro ess, or what is called fan
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 staggers
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 pu,
in salt or turpentine. If the attack is a
severe one, this treatment will kill the
hog every time. II the engagement Of
the liver is not very great it may survive
the treatment, but it will take some time
to get over it. If the disease is fully de-
veloped. the animal will stagger around
nearly in a circle for three or four time;
and fall down, getting up in weak,
dazed sort of way, only to repeat the
stagger The proper thing to do is to
let a stout man straddle the hog while il
is standing up, and slip the moose of 8
stout cord or small rope over the nose
and upper jaw, and another cord ovel
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 paper
or spoon in the right hand pour full
half teaspoon III of calomel as far back
on the tongue as possible, and lei
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 in ;ury to the hand of the operator
but will be found more or less in thu
way. If the animal has been closely
watched, however, there has probably
been found opportunity to give it THU
dose of calomel while it would yet ca
a little meal or drink little milk. Thi
medicine is tasteless, and for this reason
can often be given in food when NOR,
nauseous medicine would be refused, ant
this is point not to be despised in treat
ing hogs. This dose is all that need b.
given in great majority of cases, bu
it Will be prudent to add couple o
tablespoonfuls of salts the next day, O
as soon as the animal shows any desirI
to eat, and if necessary this amount ma,
be divided into two or three doses. A
the time of year when fattening begins
if any of the hogs do not take kindly t.
the corn, and it is often tie case, it will
be found of great benefit to give one
third of level teaspoonful of calome
each morning for three or four morn
ings, and if they exhibit any signs o
worms, add nearly as much santonine t.
each dose. In few days there will b
a marked improvement in their eating
and they will be as lively as six weeks
pig, and there will be no further fear o
blind staggers. -American AgricuIturist