Death Among Swill-Fed Hogs. 8r 



as they appear, it seems highly probable that the cause of death of the 

 animals in certain of the outbreaks mentioned was the presence of the 

 free alkali in the swill. This hypothesis is supported by the experi- 

 ences of Mr. Davey and Dr. McCrank. 



Chemical Analysis of the Soap Powders Used. 



In order to ascertain the chemical nature of these soaps they were 

 submitted to Mr. Geo. W. Cavanaugh, Assistant Chemist of the Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station for analysis. The following report was 

 received : 



*' The soap powders used in the above experiment are mixtures of 

 ordinary hard soap that has been powdered or in some way reduced to 

 a fine condition, and sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate is known 

 in commerce as Sal Soda, Washing Soda or Soda. In water it forms 

 a caustic solution which is the lye used in making the old-fashioned 

 hard soaps. 



Analysis. 



Soap A 49.60 per cent. 



Soap B 55-42 per cent. 



Soap C 55-44 per cent. 



(Signed) Geo. W. Cavanaugh, Asst. Chemist." 



A careful inquiry has been made to ascertain the quantity of these 

 soaps commonly used in washing dishes. - This has revealed the fact 

 that while the amount used by different individuals varies, the quantity 

 is large, usually far in excess of the amount prescribed by the manu- 

 facturers. Thus I have been told, by thoroughly reliable people, of 

 dish washers who would use one-third of a box in cleansing the dishes 

 after a single meal. While this is extreme, it is said to happen not infre- 

 quently, and it is easy to understand that the swill from these kitchens 

 would contain far more of the alkali than we found necessary to pro- 

 duce fatal results. Should such excess in the use of these cleaning 

 agents be indulged in for several days in succession, we have, in the 

 light of the foregoing experiment, a cause for many fatahties among 

 the hogs fed upon the dish water, 



