442 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
These experiments show that none of these agents can be depended . 
on to stop the changes going on in the blood as a consequence of this 
disease. Although both bisulphite of soda and salycilic acid in one ex- 
periment each appeared to accomplish this, they failed in other cases 
where given in larger doses for an equal length of time; and when wea 
consider that in no contagious fever has a remedy been discovered 
capable of arresting the course of the maladv, the doubt in regard to 
the efficacy of these agents in this disease must increase. 
. 
SANITARY REGULATIONS. 
We are finally brought to the irresistible conclusion that sanitary 
regulations properly framed and enforced are the only means at our 
command for checking the ravages of this disease and relieving our 
farmers from the enormous losses at present occasioned by it. Weean- 
not expect, however, that this desirable object will be accomplished 
without cons siderable’ expense, especially in the tirst years of the attempt. 
We must expect outbreaks in all parts of the country where the disease 
has previously existed, caused by contagious germs which have been 
preserved in some of "the ways already. mentioned; but we should be — 
encouraged by the fact that in most parts of the country, at least, these 
germs, unless especially preserved in straw, manure, remains of dead 
animals, &c., are entirely destroyed during winter. aan in Swannanoa 
township, where 60 per cent. of the hogs died in 187 , there has been 
no outbre valk up to October 30, 1878. Above all mate we realize the 
necessity of thoroughly destroying every particie of contagion wherever 
it appears. Although this would undoubtedly be very expensive, it - 
would certainly be a great saving, even at the start, on the great losses 
which we are now annually experiencing; and if the work is thoroughly 
done we may expect that this expense will be reduced to a compara- 
tively small item in the course of a few years. At the worst such ex- 
pense would be much less than the use of a specific by individual farm- 
ers, even if such a remedy were discovered. In regard to such regula- 
tions I would suggest the following points as necessary according to 
what is now known of the disease: 
1. The regulations should go into effect In winter or early spring 
when fewest animals are afiected, or when, as my experience indicates, 
the disease is entirely extinct. 
2. People living in localities where the disease has prevailed within 
two years should keep their hogs in an inclosure free from accumula- 
tions of manure, straw, litter of any kind, or remains of dead animals 
in which the contagion might possibly be preserved, and in which there 
were 16 sick hogs the preceding year. 
3. That in such localities, ¢. e., where the disease has existed within, 
two years, it should be made obligatory for persons owning hogs to re- 
port each and every death occurring in their herds promptly (within 
forty-eight hours if but one, or tw enty- -four pours if more than one, or 
if others are sick), to a designated person to be located in every town- 
ship or county, unless such “deaths were plainly caused by mechanical 
injuries, drowning, maternity, &c. And that there should be districts 
established of convenient size, in each of which a competent veterina- 
rian (or: physician in case the veterinarian could not be obtained), 
should be appointed, to whom the above township or county officer 
should report whenever two or more such deaths have occurred in the 
same herd within a fortnight; whenever an unusual number of deaths 
have occurred in any locality, or whenever there is any reasou to sus- 
pect the presence of this disease. 
