290 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OP ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



cent. The hogs were in good condition. The weather was dry and dusty. Since 

 then we have had no more of it. Nothing was done to cure or prevent. Frequently 

 all the animals would die out of a bunch of 10 or 15 head. Sometimes 1 or 2 would 

 be left. They would all appear well, then for no apparent cause one would lie down 

 and die, and so on all summer. 



JOHNSON. Hog cholera appeared here some twenty years ago ; has prevailed to a 

 limited extent ever since, but it has never been general. I have heard very little 

 complaint for several years past. It is considered contagious. 



KARNES. We have no hog cholera in our county. All classes of farm animals 

 are in good health. We have had an abundance of grass for pasture. 



KAUFMAN. Having been well acquainted with swine plague or hog cholera, both 

 in Illinois and other States east of it, I can truthfully say I have never seen in 

 Texas what I would call a genuine case of the disease. It is true some hogs die here, 

 but upon close investigation we find they have had a chance at cotton seed, or cockle 

 burrs in the spring, which results in death unless they are fed corn or other grain 

 to counteract the effects of the poison taken into the system, and that feed will 

 generally do it. There was talk here of hog cholera about 1870, when people com- 

 menced importing to improve the breed, but since the importations have become 

 acclimated. There can now be found as healthy Berkshires and Poland Chinas as 

 razor-backs, and besides they pay a great deal better for their keep. As to diseases 

 of cattle, we have a little black quarter or murrain, which invariably attacks ani- 

 mals in good condition. 



KENDALL. rSo far the hog cholera has never made its appearance in this county. 



LAMAR. If my memory serves me correctly we had no hog cholera here prior to 

 the war of the rebellion. I think some eighteen or twenty years ago it first made 

 its appearance. I know nothing of its origin. I am firmly of the opinion that we 

 have never had one-tenth the cases in this county of hog cholera that was so re- 

 ported. As you may remember some time ago I stated that, in my opinion, nearly 

 all cases of reported hog cholera was not cholera, but that many deaths were caused 

 by eating dry cotton seed. Every year I am more fully convinced that this is true. 

 Out in our prairie precincts we have what is known as a hog law, that is, hogs are 

 not allowed to run at large, and I notice all hogs that are kept in clean inclosures, 

 or where they can not get to cotton seed, do not die with so-called hog cholera, but 

 in other sections or timbered sections of the county they have no hog law, conse- 

 quently their hogs are allowed to run out, and they get into gin lots, cow lots, etc., 

 and eat cottonseed and suddenly die; then it is often said they die of cholera. I 

 have stated this theory to our people often, and a good many of our best farmers 

 fully agree with me. So far as I can learn hogs are perfectly healthy out in our hog 

 districts now, and have been ever since we have been forced to keep them up while 

 they could not get cotton seed to eat. I know before this law went into effect the 

 hogs died as frequently out here in the prairie precincts as in the timbered ones. I 

 lost as many as 82 head one year out of a lot of 120, and I believe every one died by 

 eating cotton seed when they were dry. If seeds are boiled or watered well they 

 do no injury to hogs, but in their dry condition they are " dead shots." 



LA VAC A. This disease of hog cholera has not been reported in this county for 

 years. It was not known here until the improved breeds were introduced from the 

 Western States, about fifteen years ago. No other disease affected hogs to any extent 

 before or since that time. The only disease prevailing among any class of farm ani- 

 mals is scab among sheep. 



LEE. A few years ago we lost a good many hogs, and it was supposed by some 

 that they died of cholera, but our judgment is that they died from eating cotton 

 seed, There was a heavy cotton crop made that year and cotton seed were in great 

 abundance, and they were fed in all imaginable ways to cattle, and of course the 

 hogs got a goodly share. It is known by all farmers in the cotton belt that cotton 

 seed will kill hogs, and the symptoms are those of cholera. Fully 95 per cent, of 

 the hogs that are kept in close pens are butchered. Cattle suffered greatly for want 

 of water during the late protracted drought. 



McCuLLOCH. No hog cholera in this county. It may seem remarkable, but it is 

 a fact that no disease prevailed among stock of any kind in this county at any time 

 during the year 1887. All deaths were caused by accident or from neglect or im- 

 proper use. 



McMuLLEN. Though but few hogs are raised in the county, they are remarkably 

 healthy. Hog cholera is unknown in the county. This branch of the live-stock in- 

 dustry, when we consider the great natural adaptability of the country for the pro- 

 duction of swine, has been unreasonably neglected. Ilogs are kept in good flesh 

 both summer and winter upon the range without feed. During August and Sep- 

 tember they fatten readily upon the fruit of the cactus (prickly pear), and I find by 

 experience with a few head that they will keep in moderate flesh if fed alone upon 



