REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL ESTDUSTRY. 233 



OSAGE. During the past year domestic animals of all kinds have been generally 

 free from disease. In the year 1886 hog cholera was reported as existing in various 

 portions of the county, In some localities the losses were very heavy. No special 

 cause could then be assigned for its appearance. Some were severely affected that 

 were confined in small lots in close pens, while others that had free range of large 

 pastures with good spring water were also badly affected. No remedy was found. 

 It seems that those " that were to die of cholera died, and those that were not didn't." 

 So the matter remains as much of a mystery as ever, 



OSBORNE. Hog cholera appeared in this county about two years ago and was 

 very destructive for a year or more, Since then it has gradually disappeared, until 

 now but little is heard of it. 



OTTAWA. I do not know when hog cholera first made its appearance among our 

 swine, but I think in the summer of 1884. Our hogs were quite healthy before that 

 time. Nor do I know how it was brought here, but it could easily have been brought 

 in stock cars which come to take our stock to market, and frequently bring cattle 

 and occasionally hogs in to feed, During the year of 1885 it swept off about one-third 

 of our hogs. It was much worse among hogs kept on running streams, where in- 

 fection, and sometimes dead hogs, would float down from above. No certain rem- 

 edy appears to have been found. Hogs have generally been kept in large numbers 

 in close, filthy, unprotected yards. During the existence of the disease I have kept 

 about thirty to forty hogs and pigs, but have had no disease among them. We have 

 given them the run of a clover pasture and allowed them coal and refuse soapsuds; 

 then had corn and plenty of pure well- water. We did not ring them. 



RAWLINS. No hog cholera has ever existed in this county that I am aware of. I 

 have lived here eight years, 



RENO. There has been no hog cholera in this county this year. All classes of 

 farm animals have been very healthy. A good many old animals died during the 

 latter part of last winter and early in the spring, when the grass was short. 



REPUBLIC, In 1879 a disease attacked hogs in a limited portion of this county, 

 and was confined to a few herds. It originated in a batch of hogs shipped in from 

 Missouri. After that date no disease appeared until some four years ago, when hog 

 cholera, so-called, raged generally throughout the county. It first attacked the 

 larger herds in different parts of the county, and spread from them to smaller ones. 

 I have noticed that herds of 10 to 20 are usually exempt from the disease. Our large 

 herds contain from 75 to 200 and 250 head. Since the outbreak last mentioned it has 

 attacked our large herds almost yearly, though the last two years it has not been so 

 severe, except in a few instances, 



RICE, Hog cholera first made its appearance in this county in 1882. Previous to 

 that time hogs were quite healthy. It is claimed by some that it can be cured by 

 administering a dose of carbolic acid. Since the time of its first appearance there 

 has been more or less of the disease prevailing every year. It seems to have reached 

 its climax about one year ago. 



RILEY. There is not at the present time any general disease among hogs in this 

 county, and I hear of but very few isolated cases of cholera. The real losses to the 

 county from that disease for the year 1887 will be hardly worth mentioning. 



SHERMAN. There is no hog cholera in this county. All classes of farm animals 

 are healthy and generally remain so where they have proper food and care. 



SEDGWICK. The disease known as hog cholera was introduced into this neigh- 

 borhood in the summer of 1883, by Mr. Glass buying at the stock-yards at Wichita 

 a lot of hogs shipped in from Missouri, and has been with us ever since. I know 

 several who have lost all their hogs this fall, It is prevailing extensively now. A 

 neighbor told me yesterday he had 3 left out of 45 and they were sick. Another 

 killed 20 to-day and will kill 20 more to-morrow. He kills them as soon as they 

 show any symptoms. The first man's hogs, he says, vomited and purged. The last 

 man's have not any of these symptoms, but so far as examined the lesions are con- 

 fined to the lungs and spleen and sometimes the liver. Resembles tuberculosis as is 

 pictured in the Government report of 1879-'80, This man's hogs have every care 

 and attention, but he has lost more than 000 head since 1883, in three different at- 

 tacks, viz. , 1883-'86-'87. He has several hundred at this time, but the disease is con- 

 fined to one lot of hogs, as it has been during each attack, He has tried almost all 

 remedies, with no success. 



STAFFORD. Hog cholera was imported, or brought into this county, by import- 

 ing two hogs (male and female) to improve the breed. The value of the animals 

 lost by this outbreak was $600. A few isolated cases at a distance of $ to 15 miles 

 from the above locality, valued at about $400, were lost by the disease in 18S6. I 

 have heard of but one farmer losing any this season. He put coal-oil in their swill 

 and they stopped dying. Assistants all report stock healthy. Where hogs have 

 fine stone-coal, which is strongly impregnated with sulphur, to go to at pleasure, or 



