EEPOBT OF THE BtJEEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 151 



disposed of. It may be buried. In such case it must be so deep that 

 no animal can get at it. It should be covered by a layer of powdered 

 or slaked lime several inches thick, and the ground over the body like- 

 wise sprinkled with a thin layer of the same. If the carcasses are 

 burned, care should be taken that any parts not consumed are buried 

 as directed. If they are carried away some distance to rendering es- 

 tablishments, employe's of such establishments should be compelled 

 to wrap around the carcasses strong cloths wetted with a 2 per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid, so as to protect the roads from the virulent 

 drippings. 



(b) The danger from infected streams has already been mentioned 

 at length. These must be protected by law in such a way that no 

 sick animals should be allowed to go near them, and that no carcasses 

 be thrown into them or deposited where drainage may carry the virus 

 from the body into the water. Nor should the drainage from pens be 

 permitted to flow into them. 



(c) Hogs are frequently affected with cholera of a mild form, which 

 lasts several months before some form of septic infection or degener- 

 ative changes in the internal organs produce death ; hence it is im- 

 portant to insist upon knowing when the last case of disease occurred. 

 Since it has been demonstrated that hog cholera germs may remain 

 alive in the soil from three to four months, this rule will not appear 

 unreasonable as a safeguard. 



These rules will be sufficient, if properly executed, to confine the 

 disease within narrow limits. There is no doubt that hog cholera 

 virus dies out over the greater part of our country after epizootics 

 have swept over it. We have no reason to believe that it can sur- 

 vive in the soil from one end of the year to the other. It is, in fact, 

 highly probable that it is transported and distributed from a few 

 places where for some reason cases have occurred throughout the 

 year and have thus kept the virus alive. There are no experiments 

 on record which show that the hog cholera germs may be found in 

 the soil and water independent of the disease. They have been looked 

 for but have never been found excepting in the body or discharges of 

 diseased swine. 



In view of the fact that the disease can be kept under control, the 

 legislatures of those States which suffer most severely from this 

 plague should take steps to enact rules similar to those formulated 

 above. The States of Kansas and Nebraska have on their statute 

 books laws of this character, which read as follows : 



KANSAS. 



AN ACT to prevent the spread of disease among swine. 



Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of Kansas, It is hereby made tho 

 duty of every person who owns or who has the control of any hog that has died of any 

 disease to bury or burn the same within twenty-four hours after such hog has died ; 

 and any person who knowingly fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of 

 this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof 

 shall be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars. 



SEC. 2. Whoever shall knowingly barter or sell any hog afflicted with any disease 

 without giving full information concerning said disease shall be deemed guilty of a 

 misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceeding one hun- 

 dred dollars. 



SEC. 8. Whoever shall knowingly barter or sell any hog which has died of any 

 disease shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall 

 be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars. 



SEC. 4. Whoever shall throw or deposit a dead hog in any river, stream, creek, or 

 ravine shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall 

 be fined not exceeding one hundred dollars. 



