264 BEP9ET QF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTBY. 



of any disease, Since its introduction it has prevailed to some extent every year, 

 sometimes amounting to an epidemic, at other times only isolated cases have oc- 

 curred. There has been no remedy discovered. If the animals do not die at onco 

 they are almost worthless afterwards. 



CAPE MAY. The first case of hog cholera within the recollection of any of your 

 correspondents for this county appeared about thirty years ago, when some portions 

 of our county suffered badly from it. Since that time there has been more or less 

 of it each year, perhaps less this year than for several years past. Do not know 

 the means or mode of its introduction; hogs were generally healthy previous to 

 that time. A disease appeared about the first of August among horses, which 

 seemed to baffle the skill of all veterinary surgeons within our reach. Some called 

 it " spinal meningitis," others " brain fever," and still others the " blind or stomach 

 staggers." It carried off horses very rapidly, and lasted until cold weather set in. 

 Horses attacked seemed to be taken with paralysis of the bowels and kidneys, so 

 that no passage could be had. In most cases it proved fatal. 



CUMBERLAND, A peculiar horse disease was prevalent in the low, marshy sec- 

 tions of this county the past autumn. Most horses afflicted with it died in a few 

 days. A post mortem examination showed either a diseased brain or lungs in all 

 instances. Very few horses recovered. The hog cholera was not quite so preva- 

 lent or so fatal for the year 1887 as a few years prior to that time. No general 

 cause for the disease can be assigned. In one instance hogs living on butchers' 

 offal were affected ; in other instances hogs kept under most favorable conditions, 

 and remote distances from others, were quite as seriously affected. 



GLOUCESTER. There has been more of hog cholera in the southern part of this 

 county than has existed for several years. It began about the first of April with 

 some farmers. After nearly all then* hogs had died the disease would seem to have 

 run its course. Then it would locate in another neighborhood and run a similar 

 course. From the best information I could gather, the loss in the county has been 

 about 800 head of hogs and 400 pigs. In most instances the hogs affected with the dis- 

 ease were those running to pasture and having access to plenty of run water. In one 

 particular instance, where one farmer lost 3 brood sows out of 4, the sow that did 

 not die had 4 pigs, all of which (and the sow) remained healthy, They were at 

 pasture away from the buildings, having a range of over 40 acres of farm land, 

 meadow and timber, with a rivulet of water. They had access to it at all times. 

 The hogs were affected differently; some with bowels very constipated, while others 

 would scour until death relieved them. They did not linger long or lose much 

 flesh, while those constipated would linger a long while and in some instances recover. 

 The Bragdon remedy was tried by different farmers, but did not prove a success 

 with any. 



MERCER. The disease which attacks hogs and is generally fatal to tfeem, known 

 as cholera, has been quite prevalent in the northern part of this county this last 

 fall. It has been thought that a person could carry it on his clothes from an in- 

 fected herd to a healthy one. Healthy animals, after being visited by those who 

 had been where diseased animals were, have often been suddenly attacked. Almost 

 all remedies are of no avail, as it generally proves fatal. If an odd one now and 

 then should recover it is left diseased in some way, generally with a sore some- 

 where. It has prevailed here for a number of years, worse in some seasons than in 

 others, but proving fatal almost always to the whole herd. I one year had a 

 splendid lot of poultry, numbering over 200 head, sound and healthy in every re- 

 spect. A friend visiting me was looking at them who at the tune had cholera 

 among his fowls. In ten day's time I was wheeling mine out from under the roost 

 by the wheelbarrow load at a time. I sincerely believe he brought the germs of 

 the disease in his clothes. Two cases of pleuro-pneumonia were reported, but the 

 animals were at once killed. 



MIDDLESEX. Hogs have generally been healthy here. There has been no cholera 

 that I have heard of, and no disease prevalent. Of course some have died, Sheep 

 generally healthy; a little foot-rot. There were a few cases of pleuro-pneumonia 

 among cattle, but the State officials slaughtered the herds in which it prevailed, to 

 prevent its spread. x 



MORRIS. Fifty years ago hog cholera was scarcely known; hogs were procre- 

 ated, fatted, killed, and eaten as one of the healthiest meats then known, About 

 twenty-five years ago hog cholera insidiously made its appearance in this county. 

 From whence did it come? Not from far. The disease generated itself from bad 

 feed, slop drinks, offal from wastes contaminated with insects, corn and grain 

 with smut and ergot, indigestible cobs mixed by grinding, closed pens, and a defi- 

 ciency of alkali. What results therefrom? The eaters of the pork have taken 

 many diseases, and many diseases are constantly baffling the skill of physicians in 

 their practice among the people. How to prevent? Previous to this disease diogs 



