REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 269 



the disease has never originated among those hogs running in the forest and away 

 from the barn-yard and kitchen. "We have had no cholera this year. 



GUILFORD. The origin of hog cholera in this county is unknown, but it has ex- 

 isted in this county for fifteen or twenty years. It has not prevailed here to any 

 great extent for about three years. 



HARNETT. Hog cholera has prevailed in some parts of this county, and has 

 proved very fatal. There seems to be a very ill-defined idea in the minds of our 

 people as to what hog cholera is ; for everything in the way of hog disease is denom- 

 inated cholera. It began to be common in some sections about twenty years ago. 

 Previous to that time our hogs were generally healthy. It is not known how it was 

 introduced. 



HENDERSON. Cholera was first brought into this county by hogs driven through 

 here from the "West about the year 1843. Hogs were generally healthy up to that 

 time. 



HYDE. It is a difficult matter to obtain a correct statement as to the exact time 

 hog cholera made its first appearance here ; but, as far as I can gather from the cit- 

 izens, it was between 1877 and 1880. Previous to its coming a sick hog was rare ; 

 and it has been growing gradually worse each year and more fatal particularly with 

 pigs. They rarely ever recover. We are confident it is carried about by the buz- 

 zards. The hogs that die in this county are never buried or destroyed in any way, 

 but scattered all over the county, wherever they chance to fall a victim to the dis- 

 ease. The buzzards are exceedingly numerous, and no doubt carry it from point to 

 point. Some portions of the county have never been entirely clear of cholera from 

 the commencement of the disease here. Our hogs are sick in no other way. Num- 

 bers of farmers have lost all they had. 



IREDELL. After a close observation for the space of twenty-five or thirty years 

 we are about as ignorant of the disease called hog cholera as we were at its first in- 

 troduction. There are some noticeable facts, perhaps, worth mentioning : First, 

 that it always moves westward, never eastward ; second, that it may prevail on 

 one side of a stream and not cross at all ; thirdly, it moves about 15 or 20 miles an- 

 nually (sometimes much less than that) ; lastly, it rarely ever prevails in the same 

 neighborhood two seasons in succession. Since the adoption of the stock or ' ' no- 

 fence law " it prevails only at the distilleries, and that only occasionally, and is en- 

 gendered, perhaps, in many cases from the slovenliness of the distiller leaving slops 

 in the stills until they become copper poisoned. I frankly confess that we know 

 but little about the disease. All kinds of farm animals have been unusually healthy 

 during the year. 



JONES. Hog cholera was unknown in this county before the war. The first I re- 

 member of it was about 1872, when it attacked the fat hogs in lots and pens, and the 

 next spring hogs in pastures and those running loose in the woods sickened and 

 died. The first sick hogs I remember were White Chesters. The disease is present 

 every year. I keep my stock on rny own premises, apart from all others, and so far I 

 have escaped the disease. Dead hogs are allowed to stay right where they die, and 

 I think sickness is spread in that way. 



MCDOWELL. The disease known as hog cholera made its appearance in this 

 county about the year 1860. We suppose the introduction of the disease to have 

 been from hogs driven in from Tennessee. The general condition and health of 

 hogs previous to that time was good. There have been no deaths from cholera this 

 year. Among other animals there has been but little disease except an occasional 

 case of distemper among cattle. 



MECKLENBURG. There has not been any hog cholera in this county for several 

 years. The first cases of cholera date back at least forty or fifty years ; but I can 

 not say how it originated. So few hogs are raised now that cholera is very seldom 

 heard of. 



MITCHELL. I don't know that we have had hog cholera in this county for ten 

 years past. Sometimes a hog dies, but more die from quinsy than from cholera. 

 It first made its appearance here in 1866. Hogs were always healthy here previous 

 to its appearance. 



MONTGOMERY. The number and value of hogs, as well as other stock, is taken 

 from list-takers' reports for taxation January 1, 1887, and is correct as to numbers, 

 but really below actual value. The cholera among hogs made its appearance very 

 distinctly about the year 1883, perhaps to some extent earlier, but how it was first 

 introduced is not known. Before its introduction hogs were comparatively healthy, 

 and there was some profit in raising them, at least for home consumption. In 1885- 

 1886 more than 50 per cent, died of cholera, and the loss was considerable before 

 that time. During the first three months of this year there was considerable loss. 

 Since then there have been very few deaths, and almost none recently, and the coun- 

 try is being stocked again very rapidly. 



