Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-04-03
FARM AND GARDEN.
RESULTS OF THE LATEST INVES-
LEGATIONS OF SWINE DISEASE.

How Many Are Deceived as to Kidney
worm-Trichine Contracted by Hogs
Eating the Refuse of Slaughter House.
Practical Men Testify.
G. Stuart & Son contribute to The Ohio
Farmer some valuable suggestions gained
by their experience with hogs. Practice,
they say, has taught us the great neces-
sity of being thoroughly posted in the
symptoms in order to be able to prescribe
treatment and cure. No. 1, in the illus
tration given herewith, represents the
symptoms of kidney worms. Helmin-
thology has taught us to see the fallacy
of many cases of kidney worms. The
parasite supposed to cause the loss of
power, and to paralyze the muscles of
the loins, is not present in per cent. of
the supposed cases. Furthermore, there
is not one person in one hundred that
ever saw kidney worm; microscopy
alone can decide and determine the pres
ence of these parasites.
The animal in the illustration was sup
posed to be suffering from their presence,
butas we had the opportunity of an ex-
animation of the kidneys, weiare able to
give the real truthlof thecase. The hog
was slaughtered in our presence, and we
removed both kidneys, in order to sub
NIT them to the microscope. We found
myriads of trichine and also cysts i'm
bedded in the kidney tissue. Lad all
the trichinaa been encysted, the hog
would have shown no trouble in his
movements, but those that were free
were the parasites that caused the
trouble. The owner being present at
the examination decided that every
partof the carcase should be infinitely
examined, and we foundi trichine in
every stage.
On inquiry we found that the pigs were
purchased from slaughter house where
all offal of animals was thrown to them.
We had occasion afterward to visit the
place where the pigs were bought, and
found the intestines of several animals,
sleeps heads, lungs and blood, put where
the hogs had the best chance to become
infected with the parasites. Any hog
affected with trichine will show the same
symptoms, and great care should be
taken about using any kind of pork that
may have been affected in that way. We
have seen hogs that wereso fat that they
dragged their hind legs when they were
forced to move. The owner of such
should not think that they are models of
perfect health, as they are in doubtful
state.
No. 9 represents case of paralysis of
the lumbar muscles, caused by injury or
exposure. A farmer in cleaning out the
pen placed shovel on the loins of hog
very lightly, he said, but from that mo-
ment afterward the pig walked with lis
back bumped as if he had disease of the
kidneys. No one should strike a hog
across the back, as no domestic animal
is SO easily injured permanently as the
hog.
No. 8 represents a case of tape worm
in the small intestine and stomach of the
pig. The owner stated that all the hogs
did well till they had the run of the field;
then they did not do well, although well
fed. They were always hungry, but
they did not fatten. Hogs infested with
tape worms are never satisfied, but de-
YOUR anything they can, even the excre
ments of any animal. The tape worms
that infest the pigs are Tania maculata
and Tenia expasia. One of our speci-
mems measures twenty-five feet. The
medicines to cause their expulsion are
kousso, oil of turpentine, ground root of
male fern, and areca nut. Santonine can
be well powdered and given in the food,
mixed with molasses. 1t is the bestmix-
ture that can be given, as it does not
cause nausea, like oil, and has no flavor
of medicine.