The Hog (Youatt)/Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII.
THE GULLET.
The gullet, or œsophagus, is a musculo-membranous tube, commencing at the pharynx, passing down the throat on the left side of the windpipe, entering the chest in company with that tube, penetrating through the folds of the diaphragm, and terminating in the stomach through an orifice termed the cardia.
THE STOMACH.
The stomach of the hog is a much more simple apparatus than that of the ox and sheep; it is a truly omnivorous one, and beautifully adapted by its pyramidal appendage and glandular structure, as well as by the villous mucous membrane with which it is lined, for the digestion of the heterogeneous food which it is destined to receive, being, perhaps, more analogous to that of the horse than to any other animal. In form it is globulous. Its large blind cavity is very voluminous, and is surmounted in front by a hood-like appendage. The narrow long portion which abuts on the pylorus, greatly resembles this hood-shaped appendage. On each side of the cardia are two transversal folds, and the cardia itself is half way between the pylorus and the large cavity.
The stomach has three coats,—the outermost, or peritoneum, which constitutes the common covering of all the intestines; the muscular or fibrous coat, which acts upon, and mingles the food, and prepares it for digestion; and the mucous or villous coat, which is peculiarly developed in the pig, and into which open the mouths of numerous little vessels, conveying the gastric juice to the semi-digested food, and by its action conveying it into a pultaceous fluid, commonly called chyme.
THE INTESTINES.
The intestines of the hog bear a stronger resemblance to those of the human being than we find in any other animal. They are sixteen times the length of the body of the animal, and the proportions of the small intestines to the large are as three to one. They are composed of four coats or layers. The outer or peritoneal one is formed of that membrane which invests and retains in its proper position every portion of the contents of the belly. The second layer is muscular, and by its action propels the contents of the stomach gradually onward's. The office of the third is to lubricate the innermost coat, and for this purpose, it is supplied with numerous glands surrounded by cellular tissue. The fourth or lining coat is soft, villous, and, in a healthy state, always covered with mucus. The food, having been sufficiently converted into chyme by the action of the stomachs, is gradually propelled through the pyloric orifice by
THE DUODENUM,
or first intestine, where it is submitted to the influence of two fluids, the one secreted by the pancreas, the other by the liver, and the combined action of which separates the nutritious from the worthless portion, causing the former to assume the appearance of a thick whitish fluid, and the latter that of a yellow pulpy substance. It next passes into
THE JEJUNUM AND ILEUM,
where it undergoes still further alteration, and whence a considerable portion of it is taken up by the lacteal vessels which open into these two small intestines, and conveyed away to nourish the frame, and become mingled with the blood and supply the waste in it. These intestines are of equal diameter in the pig throughout their whole extent, and the termination of the jejunum and commencement of the ileum is by no means distinctly defined; the latter is, however, longer than the former, and opens into
THE CŒCUM,
with a valvular opening close to the aperture into the colon. The cœcum is a kind of bag supplied with numerous secretory glands, which furnish it with a fluid which once more acts upon those portions of the digested food which reach it, extracting from them any nutritive portions which may chance still to remain. The matter having reached the base of this intestine, is returned by the muscular action of its coat, and being prevented by the valve from reentering the ileum, passes into
THE COLON,
the largest of the large intestines, some of the convolutions of which equal the stomach in size, while others are as small as the small intestines. Here the watery parts of the mass are extracted, and the residuum or hard fæcal portion is retained for awhile, and finally expelled through the rectum. It will be readily imagined that this complicated and beautiful process must occasionally become deranged by various causes, and that hence will arise different diseases of a more or less serious nature. This is, however, less the case in swine than in most of our other domesticated animals, from the circumstance of their stomachs and intestines being prepared by the softening power of their highly mucous villous lining for the reception and digestion of a heterogeneous mass of food, which to other animals would be actually poisonous; rendering it evident that, although the hog in a state of nature is a herbivorous animal, he was also destined to become omnivorous for the service of man.
ENTERITIS.
This disease consists in inflammation of one or more of the coats of the intestines, and is capable of being produced by various irritating causes, as the foul air of badly ventilated styes, unwholesome food, &c.
The symptoms are dullness, loss of appetitite, constipation, spasms, or convulsions, continued restless motion, either to and fro, or round and round, staggering gait, evident symptoms of suffering.
The most successful treatment is warm baths, dry litter, and general warmth and comfort; and internally, purgatives and enemas. Castor oil, calomel, or rhubarb, are the best purgatives for cases of this nature, and the enemas should be of an emollient oleaginous nature. The diet should be restricted to the simplest and lightest, food; oatmeal, porridge, skim-milk, or whey, are the best things.
COLIC.
The hog is frequently attacked by this malady, which generally arises from unwholesome food, cold, or wet filthy styes; and is evidenced by restlessness, cries of pain, rolling on the ground, &c. A dose of castor oil proportionate to the size of the patient, with perhaps a little of ginger in it, and administered in warm milk, will generally give speedy relief; or if the first should not, the dose must be repeated. Some practitioners recommend Glauber's or Epsom salts, but we consider oleaginous purgatives to be best adapted for attacks of colic.
DIARRHŒA.
This is a disease very common among all our young domesticated animals, and one that is also repeatedly met with in older ones; a scanty allowance, or unwholesome food will produce it, as will also over feeding, or too nutritious diet It consists in a frequent discharge of the fæcal matter in a thin or slimy state, but not actually altered, and arises from inflammation or congestion of the mucous lining of the intestines. What we conceive to be an attack of diarrhœa, is often only an effort of nature to throw off some offensive matters, and will cease of itself in the course of twenty-four hours; but where it goes on for any length of time, it must be taken seriously in hand, as it will otherwise weaken the animal and impair its value. The best remedy for it is the compound commonly called calves' cordial, viz: Prepared chalk, one ounce, powdered [[wikt:catechu|catechu}}, half an ounce, powdered ginger, two drachms, powdered opium, half a drachm, mixed and dissolved in half a pint of peppermint water. From half an ounce to an ounce of this mixture, according to the size of the animal, should be given twice in the day; and strict attention paid to the diet, which should consist as much as possible of dry, farinaceous food.
GARGET OF THE MAW.
This is a disorder arising from repletion, and is found alike in older animals and in sucking pigs. Its symptoms strongly resemble those of colic. The remedies, too, are purgatives. Epsom salts is here, perhaps, as good a thing as can be given, in doses of from a quarter of an ounce to an ounce. It might as well be termed indigestion, for such it actually is, the stomach being overloaded with food. In sucking pigs it usually arises from the coagulation of milk in the stomach. {dhr}}
THE LIVER.
This organ in swine does not appear to be so subject to disease as it is in most of our other domesticated animals; we have only, therefore, to glance at its use and anatomy as we pass. It is smaller in swine than in sheep, and larger than we find it in the dog, in accordance with that anatomical law, which seems to be in force in all animals; namely, that the size of the liver shall be in inverse proportion to that of the lungs. It is situated in the anterior part of the abdomen, and its upper surface rests against the concavity of the diaphragm. Its office is to receive the blood that is returned from the intestines, separate from it and secrete the fluid termed bile, and then forward the residue of the blood onwards to the lungs, where it undergoes the usual aerating process, and becomes transmuted into arterial blood.
The fluid or bile thus secreted, when in a healthy state, and not in undue proportion, stimulates the mucous membrane, and increases the peristaltic motion of the intestines, excites the secretion of that mucus requisite to preserve these parts in a healthy state, hastens the process of separating the nutritious from the innutritious parts of the food, and facilitates the escape of the fæcal matters. It also acts chemically upon the various substances which are devoured by the animal, and is the chief agent in neutralizing the acidity which some of these would otherwise create. The liver of the pig has four distinct lobes.
THE SPLEEN.
In the hog the spleen is very long, and nearly of a uniform breadth and thickness throughout its whole extent. It lies on the left side of the abdomen, and is attached to the stomach by the folds of the epiploön. Its texture is almost like that of a sponge in appearance, consisting of innumerable cells of every size and form, yet it is firm to the touch. In color it is a dark, deep reddish brown.
There has been much dispute as to the functions and use of this organ. Some persons, arguing from its situation, contend that it is a powerful agent in the process of digestion; but this is strongly negatived by the fact, that it has been removed from some animals which have existed for a considerable time afterwards, without apparent injury to that function. Others again, and with more probability, assume that it has to do with the coloring and conversion of the chyle into blood as it passes through the mesentery, where it becomes mixed with the red coagulable fluid furnished by the spleen. But with these physiological questions we have at present nothing to do: our purpose is simply to consider it with a view to understanding and treating those diseases of which it is not unfrequently the seat. Little attention has hitherto been paid to them, probably from their symptoms being somewhat obscure; but nevertheless, different morbid affections of the spleen are by no means uncommon among the lower domesticated animals. This viscus is often ruptured, distended with blood, inflamed, or softened, from the effects of different causes, but chiefly of damp, heat, or foul air.
SPLENITIS.
Swine suffering under this malady are restless and debilitated, shun their companions, and bury themselves in the litter. There is loss of appetite and excessive thirst, so excessive that they will drink up any thing that comes in their way, no matter how filthy. The respiration is short; they cough, vomit, grind the teeth, and foam at the mouth; the groin is wrinkled, and of a pale brownish hue, and the skin of the throat, chest, and belly, (which latter is hard and tucked up,) is tinged with black.
The remedies are copious blood-letting, gentle purgatives, as Epsom or Glauber's salts, followed up by cooling medicines. Cold lotions of vinegar and water, to bathe the parts in the neighborhood of the spleen, or a cold shower-bath applied by means of a watering- pot, are also efficacious in these cases.
Columella, in his quiet style, thus treats of this disease:—
"Also the pain of a distempered spleen uses to plague them; the which chiefly happens when there chances to be great droughts, and, as the Bucolic poem speaks—
When on all sides the apples scattered lie,
Each under its own tree;
for it is an insatiable cattle the swine, which beyond all measure eagerly seek after that which is sweet. They labor and are affected in the summer and early autumn with a swelling or growth of the spleen, from the which they are relieved if troughs be made of tamarisks and butcher's broom, and filled with water, and set before them when they are thirsty; for the medicinal juice of the wood being swallowed with the drink, puts a stop to their intestinal swelling."
The great difficulty here is, how troughs can be made of the museus (butcher's broom.) In all probability the true meaning is, that the trough should be lined with the branches of this plant; and the tamarisks signifies doubtless the tamaricus e trunco mentioned by Pliny, lib. xxiv. 9, where he speaks of canals and troughs being made of the tamarix. Translators are given occasionally to make similar mistakes or alterations of text.
RUPTURE OF THE SPLEEN.
We quote this case from the "Veterinarian" for 1841:—
"A pig belonging to Mr. Roberts of Whitchurch, died after having only been ill for a day or so, and that unattended by any definite symptoms. On post-mortem examination the spleen was found to be of about three or four times its natural size, and completely congested. In one place there was a small rupture surrounded with coagulated blood. All the other viscera were perfectly sound."
ABSORPTION OF THE SPLEEN.
This case is also derived from the same source, and we present it to our readers as a testimony of the different forms of disease which occur in the spleen of the swine.
"A fat pig, weighing fifteen score, was killed, and upon cutting it up, the spleen was found to be almost entirely absorbed. It was of the usual length, but not above half an inch in width or the eighth of an inch in thickness in any part, and weighed but seven drachms. What there was of it, however, appeared to be perfectly sound, and was surrounded by a considerable portion of adepts."
PERITONEUM.
This portion of the contents of the abdomen is composed of cellular tissue, and amply supplied with absorbent vessels; its office is to separate the different viscera from each other, to envelop them, and to attach them to, and support them in their proper position. It is subject to attacks of inflammation, technically termed
PERITONITIS,
the symptoms of which closely resemble those of splenitis; and the causes too are very similar, being chiefly improper food, repletion, or exposure to extremes of temperature. Oleaginous purgatives are here the only ones which are admissible, and emollient clysters; great attention must also be paid to the diet, and nothing of an acrid or indigestible nature given to the animal. This disease is too often fatal, gradually wasting away its victim. The post-mortem appearances are as follows: the intestines have become so adherent to each other that it is scarcely possible to believe that any false membranes were ever interposed; the peritoneal surfaces present evidences of inflammation, and are often covered with confluent ulcerations resembling those seen in glanders of the horse; there is considerable inflammation of the muscular coat of the intestines, and the whole of these parts are thickened and corrugated.
WORMS IN THE INTESTINES.
These entozoaria are very troublesome in swine, and often exceedingly fatal. The spiroptera strongylina is of the kinds most common to the hog, but the ascarides tænia and echinorhine are likewise often found in considerable numbers.
The presence of worms may be inferred when the animal eats voraciously and yet continues lean and out of condition; coughs, runs restlessly about, uttering squeaks of pain, becomes savage, snapping at his companions, and destroying all rabbits and poultry that come in his way. The excrements are generally hard and highly-colored, the eyes sunken, the animal becomes daily more debilitated, and frequent attacks resembling colic tend still further to weaken him. Too often he dies; for before these symptoms have been noticed the evil has generally attained to such a height as to be beyond the power of medicine; for these parasites, and the echinorhine especially, multiply with incredible rapidity.
Drastic purgatives constitute the most efficient means of combating worms; but they must be cautiously administered, as they are but too apt to dissolve and force away with them the lining mucus of the intestinal canals. Turpentine is exceedingly destructive to worms, and although to many of our domesticated animals a dangerous medicine, it may be administered with perfect safety to the hog. Common salt may be also given with advantage, and should be mingled with the food. Nor must it be supposed that because no worms are seen to come away from the animal the treatment may be discontinued, or that there are none; hundreds of them die in the intestines, and there become digested and decomposed, and go through the same processes as the food.
THE BLADDER.
This organ seems to be but little subject to disease in swine. Its position beneath the rectum and genital organs contained in the pelvic cavity protects it in all animals from external injuries; and the pig not being exposed to those causes which render the horse and dog peculiarly liable to disease of the bladder, namely, speed, long and fatiguing exercises, &c., seems to be comparatively exempt from it.
There is, however, a case narrated in the " Veterinarian," by Mr. Reid, V. S., which we shall quote.
VESICAL CALCULI.
"A barrow-pig that to the seventh month had manifested perfect health, from that period fell rapidly away (although its appetite remained unimpaired,) so much so in fact that in two months more it was a mere bag of bones, and the owner had it destroyed. He attributed this decline to a difficulty in passing its urine, which distressed the animal to such a degree that every time it wanted to stall it quite moaned with pain, rolling upon its back, arising, and again posturing itself for stalling, arching its spine, and making violent efforts, which too often were ineffectual. At other times, and indeed oftenest. he after much straining succeeded in passing a little urine, but this was speedily followed by fresh efforts. Occasionally, after having rolled about and laid on its back, it obtained relief by a flow of urine in a full stream. The urine was at all times perfectly clear."
This account was sufficient to draw Mr. Reid's attention to the presence of vesical calculi. He regretted that he had not been called in during the life of the animal, that he might have made it the subject of operation, and requested permission to examine the carcass.
The bladder was half full of limpid urine, in which floated the stone. The internal coat of the bladder about the inferior part exhibited slight blushes of inflammation. All around the neck it was deeply inflamed, and thence the reddening spread about an inch into the urethra. The peritoneum also exhibited a light tint.
INVERSION OF THE BLADDER.
A sow littered in the morning and brought forth ten pigs without any apparent difficulty, and immediately afterwards something resembling the bladder, and which appeared to be about half full, came out. The owner seeing that it did not come away, became alarmed and sent for the pig-butcher, who said it was the womb, and that it must be put back, which he accordingly endeavored to do, and having passed two or three stitches of small twine across the labia to retain the parts, left the animal. Mr. Neale, V. S., of Burbage, happening to hear of the occurrence, called to see the sow. He found the vagina considerably protruded, or at least that there was a protrusion of the size of a man's fist, and in a sloughing state, there. She appeared, however, in good condition, got up without apparent pain or difficulty, and was suckling her young well. The urine was flowing drop by drop. As the owner declined having any thing done to her, Mr. Neale ordered the parts to be bathed with a decoction of bark. Four months afterwards she was killed for bacon, and weighed 160 lbs. Upon opening her the uterus was found to be perfectly healthy, the vagina as clean as possible, and the tumor reduced by sloughing to the size of a lemon; the bladder was completely gone. The kidneys were full of white purulent matter of about the consistence of cream. The uterus led directly from the kidneys to the protruded part, at the inside of which, and just below the anus, was a formation of matter about the size of a hen's egg. There was not the slightest trace of inflammation, in any of the surrounding parts.
PROTRUSION OF THE RECTUM.
This is an evil of not unfrequent occurrence in swine, arising chiefly from obstruction of the intestines. Where the cause is simply obstruction, an operation will remedy it; but as the obstruction is too frequently attended with rupture of some of the intestines, it will perhaps be as well to have the animal slaughtered at once, especially if it is in tolerably good condition.
HERNIA.
There is little doubt but that umbilical and congenital hernia are of frequent occurrence among swine; but as yet the attention devoted to the diseases of these animals has been so slight that we dare not venture positively to assert the fact.