'^be Journal of the 2)epattment 

 of Honculture of IDictoda. 



MARCH, 1904. 



SWINE PLAGUE. 



By A. A. Broa-n, M.B., B.S. 



Introduotiux. 



Swine plague, by its ravages, has beau occasioning considerable 

 concern to the producers of our State, for it has been the cause of 

 extensive mortality amongst pigs. Some years ago it, no doubt, 

 made its presence felt in Gippsland, but in consequence of my then 

 not getting fresh specimens to decide the disease, I could not do 

 more than pronounce a provisional diagnosis. I announced at that 

 time that the disease then prevailing was very probably swine plague. 



On March 20th last, I had an oppoi'tunity of seeing a case, from 

 the lymphatic glands of which I made pure cultures of the specific 

 germs of swine plague. On the 21st idem., from the lesions presented 

 and from bacteriological examination, I reported the disease to be 

 swine plague and since that time numerous cases have occurred in 

 different parts of the State. 



The first account of swine plague came from Ohio in 18o8. It 

 was next reported in South Carolina in 1837. In 1888 it was in 

 Georgia, and in 1840 in Alabama, Florida, Illinois and Indiana. In 

 1843 it was in North Carolina, in 1844 in New York and in 1845 in 

 Kentucky. From 184G to 1855 it appeared to be on the increase in 

 the United States. It is the belief that the disease was introduced 

 into America by importations of swine from Europe. 



In 1877 Klein studied the disease and designated it jmeumo- 

 enteritis of the pig. 



In 1885-0, it w;is very prevalent in America and was investigated 

 by Salmon and called hog cholera. 



In 1887 it raged in B^rance and was studied by Cornil and 

 Chantemesse and Rietsch and Jobort. It was supposed to have 

 been introduced into France from Africa. 



In Denmark and Sweden it caused great mortality in 1887, and 

 was investigated by Bang and Selander. It was supposed to have 

 been introduced into those countries from England. 



