FARM AND STATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 6

FARM AND STATION.

SWINE AILMENTS.

Now that farmers are fairly well assured of a steady demand and remunerative prices for pork, they are beginning to recognise the fact that no other animal than the pig converts a given quantity of corn or other nutritive food so soon into fat, oi can be made fat on so great a variety of food ; but this knowledge notwithstanding, any place is too often thought good enough to lodge a pig in, and a sty is a word synonymous with a filthy hovel. Consequently various ailments are thus engendered, nearly all of which are readily spread by contagion and infection, and the symptoms of some of them are so similar that they are frequently confounded. Recently a correspondent made complaint of an outbreak of a disease among his pigs, "in which the skin turns black in places, and is accompanied by excessive panting." Obviously this bald description of the symptoms presents a difficulty of diagnosis, and as on inquiry we have ascertained that attacks of a like character have been by no means uncommon, we cull some extracts from the writings of competent authorities with the view to help farmers to determine the nature of any prevailing malady among their swine, and necessary by careful post mortem examination.

In the annual report for 1893 of the Royal Veterinary College (England), it is stated in reference to swine erysipelas that this disease must have existed for years unnoticed among British pigs, "and, considering its contagious and fatal character, the circumstance can hardly be accounted for on any other supposition than that it has been confounded with swine fever."

Swine erysipelas as a rule differs from swine fever in being more rapidly fatal. Death or recovery usually occurs within two or three days, but strange to say, in some individual animals it runs a chronic course. In this chronic form the affected pig may linger in an unthriving state for months. The history of a pig that died from chronic erysipelas is given in the report. The animal belonged to a labouring man, who had purchased it in February 1892, when it was about three months old. It continued to thrive until the month of October following, when it fell ill. It ceased to feed, and a large purple patch made its appearance on the animal's right side. This patch subsequently turned almost black, and later it became dry and scaly like a part that had been blistered. Eventually the deceased patch reacquired its normal appearance, save that it remained of a deeper red than the other parts. The pig, however, did not recover; it lay constantly, refused to eat, and died five weeks after the active symptoms of the malady were manifested! No history of contagion or infection was obtainable. The principal clinical and pathological distinctions between swine erysipelas and swine fever are summarised in the report as follows :• -

1. " Swine Erysipelas 11 — Cfiarser breeds (Yorkshire included) are least susceptible. Generally attacks animals from three to 12 months old ; older pigs are sometimes attacked, but sucking pigs seldom or never. Incubative period from three to four days Discoloration of the skin a very common symptom ; sometimes confined to the under surf ace of the body and inner surface of the limbs ; sometimes general, occasionally absent ; at first bright red, later bluish or brownish red. Illness sets in suddenly, with high fever, great depression, weakness, paralysis of the hindquarters, and sometimes severe nervous disturbance. Death generally occurs on the second or third day of illness, sometimes within 24 hours, occasionally after a week, or even months (from chronic disease of the lining membrane of the cavities of the heart). Is readily spread by mediate and immediate contagion. Fatality, 50 to 75 per cent, or even more. Lesions revealed at post mortem are : — Enlargement of the spleen ; acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, with minute spots of blood. Lungs in general free from pneumonic lesions, but congested and no diphtheritic inflammation or formation of 'ringed' ulcers in the large intestine as observable in cases of swine fever."

Swine erypsipelas prevails widely through" out Europe, and continental authors quote many, examples illustrating its highly^contagious and infectious character, and show that it spreads not only by direct contact between diseased and healthy pigs, but also with'

great readiness by intermediate infection, butchers, pig-dealers, and castraters frequently acting as agents for the disemination of the disease.

(2) "Swine fever attacks pigs of any age or breed, but is most fatal in young animals. Has an incubative period of eight to ten days. Discoloration' of the skin is a common but not a constant symptom. Generally attended with constipation or diarrhoea, quick breathing, and cough. Seldom fatal within less than a week, and often lasts for two or three weeks or more. Save in very acute cases bowel lesions are constant, and pneumonia is almost equally constant. The bowel affection may take the form of a diffuse diphtheritic inflammation of the mucous membrane, sometimes of the small, generally of the large intestine. In more chronic cases the lining of the large intestine is beset with well-ringed patches of dead tissue, the so-called 'ulcers,' or with nodular elevations ('buttons') covered with dead mucous membran^. The lung disease is a catarrhal form of pneumonia, frequently attended with larger or smaller patches of blood effused into the lung tissue. Spleen, as a rule, not notably enlarged."

From the foregoing it will be evident that swine fever (supposed to be non-existent in the colony) is indicated by symptoms of such a definite character that a careful observer can have no difficultyin distinguishing from swine erysipelas, though both are epizootic or infectious fevers. Among cutaneous diseases among pigs the mange is most to be dreaded. Like the scab in sheep the mange is a cutaneous eruption arising from the presence of small minute insects called acavi, and occasioned in most instances by inattention to cleanliness. It appears in the form of blotchy sores on different parts of the body, and is accompanied by exceeding itchiness. The best local application is a sulphur ointment, consisting ' of sublimed sulphur 3oz and prepared lard 8oz ; internally, from 2dr to 4dr of an alterative powder should be administered daily. A more virulent kind of mange, known as leprosy, principally attacks the cuticle or outer portion of the skin> and is attended by a puckering of the skin and separation of the cuticle in the form of flakes of greater or less size. The best cure will be found to be the long and constant administration of an alterative powder, the application every second day of a mild mercurial ointment, a change of food, and warmth for the animals under treatment.