The Yale expositor., 1901-07-12
some Pig Troubles.

There are several common troubles
OF young pigs which breeders find it
difficult to explain or cure. The first
OF these which we desire to speak of
Is properly called "stomatitis" or
"aphtha" and the cause is usually de-
rangement of the digestive organs. For
instance If the brood SOW at once after
parturition gives a very full flow Of
milk to her young the milk will be
liable to produce a disturbance and
give rise to the disease referred to
which is characterized by the appear
ance of small blisters and ulcers with
in the mouth, upon the tongue, gums
and inside of the cheeks. To prevent
this and other troubles of the diges-
tive tract the sow should not be
fed generously upon grain just prior
to narrowing and should be very spare
ly fed for some days after the pigs
are born so that the young stomachs
Will become accustomed to food and
not suffer from over-abundance. When
1t is found that pig is not taking
the teat and is dropping and apparent
ly "off feed" then an examination OF
the mouth should be made and If tho
blisters and ulcers are found then the
SOW should have a four ounce dose of
epson salts in slop and the pig should
be treated as follows: Touch each OF
the ulcers with one drop of pure car
bolic acid. This can be safely done by
using a match stick the end of which
has been slightly frayed out so as to
hold the fluid which should not be al
lowed to come in contact with more
than the ulcer itself. Next day the
mouth should be swabbed out twice
with a solution Of one ounce of borax
in quart Of water to which add one
teaspoonful of tincture Of iron. Where
necessary this solution may be used for
a few days longer and the disease will
soon disappear. In some cases it is
not necessary to use the caustic (car-
bolic acid) it being found that the
borax wash is sufficient and in these
cases the addition of a couple OF
ounces of strained honey to the solu-
ton mentioned will make it more
pleasant and effective. TincLure OF
iron is also a good caustic and much
less dangerous than carbolic acid and
should be used by all who are afraid
to use the other caustic. Nitrate OF
silver in the shape of a lunar caustic
pencil is also used and highly recon.
mended by some but we have person
ally found the application of nitrate
of silver severe in its results for many
days after the application. Another
10 81 faI. t. ,of
uncommon is "canker" of the nose and
head which is due to a parasite some
thing like the parasite of mango. In
this disease the nose becomes covered
with ulcers which soon take on a
greenish, dry, gangrenous appearance
and tend to eat through the tissues sc
that the bones of the face are exposed
and the teeth often loosened so that
they drop out. Where this disease APP
pears in herd the affected pigs must
be at once placed by themselves and
have the best of treatment. The pens
occupied by the sick pigs should after
their removal be well scrubbed and
disinfected then white-washed. The
head Of each pig should then be rub
following which is the best mango
mixture we ever used: Creolin, one
drachm; sulphurous acid, one ounce;
turpentine, one ounce; oil of tar, two
ounces; cotton seed oil to make one
pint Shake well before using and see
that 1t does not get into the eyes. To
the ulcers of advanced cases apply
terchloride of anthony with glass rod
or a feather and in three days COM
mence rubbing once daily with the To-
ton above prescribed. The same 10
ton will be found admirable for ap.
plication to the skin of horses and cat
tie suffering from disease of a para
site nature If the above treatment
be vigorously followed there will be
little trouble in curing the disease
which left to itself is a very serious
one and often leads to the death OF
pigs.