Iron Troughs — Opinion, 237 



bound. A range of styes is convenient 

 where numbers are fed, on account of the 

 greater facility of attendance, and of dis- 

 tribution of the wash reserved in the 

 cistern. 



According to an ancient and general opi- 

 nion, not, however, entirely supported by 

 either ancient or modern experience, swine 

 do not long succeed, if kept upon the ?ame 

 ground in considerable numbers, infecting 

 each other with a malignant atmosphere. 

 In opposition to such an idea, history in- 

 forms us, that the Roman feeders possessed 

 herds of swine, to the amount of two or 

 tlu'ee'thousand each ; and I have often seen 

 upwards of two thousand large hogs fatten- 

 ed under the same roof, where, in a long 

 course of years, no mortality has been ex- 

 perienced or apprehended. The opinion in 

 question has, most probably, arisen from 

 the circumstance of too great a number of 

 pigs bred within confined limits, and a 

 defective ventilation, assisted, perhaps, by 

 a wet or boggy soil, and a want of clean- 

 liness. 



