REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 281 



DICKSON. What is known here as hog cholera first made its appearance in this 

 county about the year 1866. Previous to that time hogs were generally healthy; 

 no such thing as a f atal^ epidemic had ever attacked them. It is not known how 

 the disease was introduced here. Every known remedy has been tried to check its 

 ravages. It is thought that a decoction of Indigo water has proven more efficacious 

 than any other tried remedy. For the last two years the disease has been very 

 fatal. * At least 50 per cent, of all the hogs in the county have died of it. 



DYER. This county has been comparatively clear of hog cholera this year, and 

 hogs look well and seem to be unusually healthy at this time, as they have been 

 during the year. Pork has been bringing a fair price and the interest in hogs 

 seems to be increasing everywhere. Cholera generally attacks the hogs here in the 

 summer. 



FENTRESS. Hog cholera has been in this county for forty years. Thousands of 

 hogs have died from this fatal disease, and farmers have lost thousands of dollars 

 thereby. The quinsy killed our hogs before the cholera made its appearance in the 

 county. Horses are healthy. Cattle are generally very healthy; some few cases of 

 bloody murrain, which have proved fatal. Some cases of rot among sheep, which 

 have also proved fatal. 



FRANKLIN. The disease known as hog cholera has prevailed more or less in this 

 county since its first settlement, although not called by that name here until within 

 the last twenty years. After a careful investigation, with a view of ascertaining 

 the cause of this disease, your correspondent is still at a loss to specify it with defi- 

 nite certainty, but I am satisfied of one material fact, viz., that hogs running at 

 large in the mountain districts of this county during the season when mast, such as 

 walnuts, beechnuts, and butternuts are abundant, are most frequently attacked with 

 cholera, and they are more liable to die from its effects than those which are kept 

 enclosed and are fed on a grass, slop, and grain diet. The losses from this disease 

 are growing less as the practice of fencing in and feeding swine increases. This 

 fact is perhaps suggestive and worthy of notice as a basis for further inquiry in 

 the same direction. This present year has witnessed great improvement among 

 farmers in the way of housing and in methods of feeding stock as recommended 

 by leading stock breeders and growers, and there seems to be a general awakening 

 among our producing classes as to the necessity of improving the quality of their 

 stock by adopting the methods of our most advanced and successful stockmen. 



GIBSON. I have had some difficulty in obtaining correct information on all the 

 points, and will give the answers of two assistants, who are old citizens with myself, 

 in the county. One asssitant does not answer at all, for want of information in his 

 section. One writes that cholera made its appearance in the county about the year 

 1853. We have never found any remedy that did much good. Hogs were in a 

 healthy condition up to the time that cholera made its appearance. They have never 

 been so healthy since. In this section (eastern portion of the county) we have cholera 

 more or less every year, though worse after a heavy mast. The other correspondent 

 writes: I think it must have been some time in the forties that we first heard of 

 hog cholera. Before that time everything was quinsy, as now everything a hog 

 dies' of is cholera. I have known or heard of but little complaint of hogs dying 

 the past year, not over 10 per cent. My own observation has been that the intro- 

 duction of cholera was due to the importation of blooded hogs, such as Berkshires, 

 Chester Whites, Suffolk, etc., as it was among chickens with the importation of the 

 Asiatic fowls. The date I would fix between the years 1848-'52 in this county for 

 the first appearance of hog cholera. My own experience and observation have been 

 that the hogs whijch are permitted to bed in straw and under shelter, under out- 

 houses and the like, are more susceptible than if allowed to take the range. With 

 proper attention and care, occasionally salting them, and when lice appear, as may 

 be seen by the nits, a good greasing with hog's lard and coal-oil, not forgetting to 

 keep them in a fattening or growing condition, .no fears need to be apprehended of 

 cholera. The best antidote I have found is to give them access to your orchard, and 

 if not convenient, to gather up the fruit, peaches, apples, plums, etc., and feed to 

 them instead of selling the fruit at 50 cents per bushel; it will pay better prices fed 

 to the hogs. This has been my plan, and my hogs are noted for being exempt from 

 cholera, while my neighbors' hogs are dying around me. 



GILES. The disease generally designated hog cholera was prevalent and is now 

 prevailing in many sections of our county. The disease is fatal in nearly every case 

 where the subject is sufficiently affected to have its appetite destroyed. The very 

 few that recover are of but little or no value. The symptoms are a loss of appetite, 

 hot, dry skin, red eyes, bowels generally constipated. The victim becomes dull, ly- 

 ing hi bed most of the time, and dies in a short while, sometimes in twelve hours, 

 but sometimes lingers for a week or even two weeks. The disease is both infectious 

 and contagious. A place once infected remains so for several years unless efforts 



