EEPOET OF THE BUKEATJ OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 191 



clearly defined, and not always sufficiently characteristic. The most 

 reliable means of discrimination between these maladies at present 

 is the isolation of the microbes which produce them. The character- 

 istics of these organisms are now so well known that the bacteriologist 

 has no difficulty in distinguishing between them. 



As to the nature and treatment of hog cholera, as determined by 

 the inquiries and investigations of the Bureau of Animal Industry, 

 the reader is referred to the recent report published by the Depart- 

 ment. The attention of the reader is now directed to the following 

 replies to our circular letter, which was sent out in the fall of 1887: 



ALABAMA. 



AUTAUGA. Since 1866 hog cholera has appeared at intervals in this county. 

 Some years it has destroyed two-thirds of the herds, but at no season has it visited 

 the entire county. Some farms are skipped by the disease. The past season the 

 loss by this disease has been very serious, and, occurring at the busiest portion of the 

 year, the neglect caused the loss to be greater. It is thought that the disease caa be 

 prevented if not cured by the use of hog food, viz. , corn soaked twenty-four hours 

 in hickory ashes water, with a small addition of copperas. The above should be fur- 

 nished to hogs before getting sick, when they will eat. "An ounce of prevention 

 is worth a pound of cure. " After taking the disease calomel should be used. Many 

 writers attribute the disease " to impure water and filthy pens." This is an error, 

 BO far as this section is concerned, for our hogs take the disease and die whilst run- 

 ning in the woods or in wild range. Wild hogs die with it also. Very rarely are 

 they cured when they take the disease. Kerosene oil is a good preventive. 



BULLOCK. There has been no hog cholera in this county the past year. The writer 

 has no special theory in regard either to the history or pathology of the disease, or 

 its proper treatment. 



CALHOUN. Hog cholera appeared in this county about 1863. As to the means 

 or mode of its treatment, no one knows anything reliable. Prior to that time such 

 disease was unknown here. Last year but few hogs died of this disease in this 

 county. As yet no preventive or specific remedy has been discovered. One man 

 told me he always kept a good large pile of wood ashes, and a little salt mixed 

 through the ashes, in his hog lot where all his hogs could eat it at pleasure, and 

 that he never had lost one by cholera even when his near neighbors lost all of theirs. 



CHILTON. Hog cholera has existed in this county since 1840 to my knowledge. 

 Hogs that are well fed and given proper attention scarcely ever have it ; but those 

 that run at large and get poor during winter and spring, and then are put on oat 

 pastures, generally contract the disease. It is only wide-spread and fatal when no 

 attention is given the animals. More attention is now given live stock than for- 

 merly. 



CHOCTAW. From the best information I can obtain the disease of hog cholera 

 first made its appearance in 1861 or 1862. No idea as to the mode of its introduc- 

 tion. As a general thing hogs were healthy up to 1861, and we had but little trouble 

 to raise them. Now you find hogs looking well and fat, and possibly in two or three 

 days they commence to die. Those that are poor linger with the disease, but those 

 that are fat die in a short time after being attacked. I have known the cholera 

 cured with soft lye soap, and think if given in time it will prove a preventive. Some 

 animals are dying now in this vicinity. But every hog that dies in this county has 

 not the cholera. A good many die from snuffing dust and eating cotton seed, but 

 when one dies the first thing you hear is cholera. Both cattle, horses, and sheep 

 are in good condition. 



CLARKE. We have had but few cases of hog cholera, and those were in isolated 

 sections of the county. 



CLAY. Almost any fatal sickness among our hogs is denominated hog cholera. 

 I have failed to find any reliable information as to when it first began to prevail 

 here. Up to that period hogs were generally healthy. 



COLBERT. The condition of all kinds of live stock in our county was generally 

 good during last year. We have been almost exempt from hog cholera during the 

 year, but for eight or ten years past the disease has annually decimated the hog 

 crop. No one here has found any remedy or prevention for it. In fact, with the 

 greatest care that has been taken of our hogs, the disease sometimes prevails in 

 the most malignant form and under the best care and treatment. It seems to be a 

 disease that none of our people can account for. It is of recent origin with us. I 



