a sympathetic feeling between the
two. Sows, and indeed wellnigh all animals, pine for sympathy and
company, and no animal more so than a pig. Still there are very
occasional instances where the young sow becomes very excitable as she
commences to farrow even when she and her owner or attendant have
previously been on the best of terms. But there the cause is not the
presence of a human being, but the arrival of one of her own little
pigs. So long as the pigling remains quiet there is peace, but as soon
as the youngster endeavours to get to the teat and especially if in the
endeavour it utters a cry or a squeak, the young sow will jump up from
her nest and endeavour to seize the youngster in her mouth, when unless
prevented the sow quickly squeezes all life out of the pig; and in some
cases when the pressure has been so severe as to break the skin of the
piglet, and the sow tastes blood, she will proceed to eat the dead pig.
When affairs have arrived at this sad state, the chances of the
remaining pigs having a pleasant reception into the world are
comparatively slight.

When there exists a good understanding between the sow and attendant, as
there invariably is when the latter is not rough and unkind, as only bad
tempered men can be, the trouble in a case such as just referred to is
greatly reduced, as the attendant runs no risk in entering the sty and
in removing the little pigs as they arrive, and placing them in a hamper
or box partially filled with straw until such time as the sow has
completed her farrowing, when the pigs can be placed against the sow's
udder, and providing they do not bite her, all will settle down in peace
and comfort.

In order to avoid the slightest risk of trouble it is advisable when the
pigs are apart from the sow to break off with a pair of pliers the four
little teeth with which the pigs are endowed prior to their birth. Care
being taken to remove the pigs beyond the hearing of the sow each little
pig in turn is tucked under the left arm, the mouth is opened by the
left hand, and the teeth pressed hard with the pliers, or even a slight
turn of the wrist given, when necessary, and the brittle teeth are
crushed.

As soon as the placenta or afterbirth is ejected this should be removed.
A little slop food should be fed to the sow, and whilst she is eating
it, the wettest part of the bedding should be replaced by a little short
and dry straw just enough to render the nest comfortable for th