Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)Law, James
Science
Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)
Law, James
Veterinary medicine
_Symptoms in Acute Type._ In contrast with erysipelas these may advance
slowly and insidiously, there is a lack of the customary life and
vivacity, the tail droops, appetite is impaired, the pig creeps under
the litter and lies there, preferably on its belly, a great part of its
time, there may even be tremors suggestive of slight chill, when moved
it shows weakness, may stagger, or it may have difficulty in rising on
its hind limbs and there is encreased thirst and heat of the skin. Even
in the absence of shivering or chill, the skin is usually tender to the
touch, calling out plaintive grunting or squealing, and the same is
often true of manipulation of the belly. The temperature is raised, yet
this must be compared with the previous temperature under the conditions
in which the pig has been kept. That may have been anywhere from 100° F.
in a confined, cold, draughty pen, to 104° F. in a warm, dry pen and
with plenty of exercise. In hog cholera it may rise 1° to 3°. The
patient is breathless under exertion, the circulation is accelerated and
the mucosæ congested.
Sooner or later, (usually by the second or third day) the skin shows an
erythematous blush, especially on the ears, breast, belly and inner
sides of the thighs and forearms, in greater part effaceable by pressure
but promptly reappearing and complicated by darker spots of
extravasation which retain their color under pressure. The blush may
appear in spots of ⅒ to ⅓ inch in diameter, or it may cover the region,
or indeed the whole body uniformly. At first of a brighter red it tends
to pass in succession through the different shades of purple and violet.
Appetite becomes more and more impaired, and in exceptional cases
vomiting may occur, but often the pig will drink liquid food to the
last. A marked symptom is the enlargement of the inguinal lymph glands,
which may even be tender. An early symptom is watering of the eyes, and
later a muco-purulent exudate may form, and drying, gum the lids
together. An abundant exudate appears on the skin as the disease
advances, most abundantly about the eyelids, roots of the ears, axillæ
and groins, but often covering the whole body, forming a foul greasy
inunction, and later a black scaly covering.
The bowels may be costive at first, with fæces, firm, moulded, and
covered with mucous, and this may continue to the end. In most cases,
however, about the second or third day they become soft, pultaceous and
finally liquid, profuse, fœtid, and mixed with abundance of mucous or
even blood. The color varies, they may be whitish, yellowish (on maize
diet), red, or black (on swill).
Petechiæ usually form on the mucosæ and small sloughs and ulcers may be
found on the lips, tongue or elsewhere on the buccal mucosa.
A cough may be present but is by no means a marked symptom.
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