REPORT OF THE BUEEATJ OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 291 



the stems and leaf of the same plant, and if in addition a small ration of grain be 

 given very cheap pork might be produced. 



MADISON. Can give nothing authentic as to the appearance of hog cholera in 

 this county. Hogs die through all seasons of the year. The symptoms are widely 

 different, but every case is pronounced cholera. 



MARION. From the best information I can get in regard to the disease known as 

 hog cholera, it made its appearance during or about the close of the late war. Pre- 

 vious to that time no disease prevailed among hogs. I have not heard of any cases 

 of cholera during the year. In December a disease prevailed among hogs which 

 seemed to be lung trouble, causing considerable loss. Those affected would begin 

 to wheeze and cough, refuse to eat, fall off in flesh, and in three or four days die. 

 Some, however, would linger twenty days, and occasionally one would recover. 



MASON. All classes of farm animals were exempt from serious disease during 

 the past year. 



MATAGORDA. There are not many hogs raised in the county, and no hog cholera 

 has ever prevailed here. 



MiLAM. Hogs here are subject to cholera, but I have not heard of any dying 

 within the last twelve months. There is no known contagious disease among 

 cattle. A disease similar to farcy has prevailed among mules, and a good many 

 valuable animals have died of it during the last two or three years. It does not 

 seem to be contagious. 



MONTGOMERY. The first appearance of hog cholera in our county was in the year 

 1860. The means or mode of its introduction we do not know. Hogs were healthy up 

 to that time. It is only occasionally that we are troubled with the disease. Our hogs 

 are generally very healthy. We find that hogs running at large on the range are 

 not as subject to the disease as those confined; in fact, it is a rare case to find chol- 

 era among range hogs. Occasionally, however, it makes its appearance among hogs 

 confined, and many die, though such cases are very rare. 



MORRIS. Hog cholera made its appearance in 1865 in a mild form at times, killing 

 only a few animals up to 1885, when it swept the county of nearly all our hogs. The 

 first appearance of sickness was discovered by finding the hogs lying in bed late of 

 a morning. They would remain in that way for several hours refusing to eat. It 

 is thought by some that bitter mast will give disease to hogs; others think that cot- 

 ton seeds kill more hogs than anything else. At this time hogs are in good health. 

 Horses, mules, and sheep are free from contagious diseases. 



NACOGDOCHES. Hog cholera was in this county for a number of years before 

 the war. Many die without any remedy being used, while some farmers try every- 

 thing they can hear of. My remedy is lye, soap, and lime with meal and bran 

 mixed. Have known them to be down with the disease; if they could be induced 

 to eat this mixture they would get well. 



NEWTON. Hog cholera has been in our county about three years. At first it was 

 confined to the swampy localities; then after the first year it spread over the hills. 

 It appeared first in 1884-'85, and killed over half the hogs ; in 1887 it destroyed 

 about one-third, and this year only a few in early spring. Previous to the appear- 

 ance of cholera we had some sickness among hogs every year in the early summer 

 season. It was called rust on red legs. We at first thought it was cholera caused 

 by muddy land after an overflow; but that idea was soon abandoned. As to a 

 remedy, we have not found anything reliable. Charcoal has been used to advan- 

 tage as a preventive. Mercury cured a few sick ones, but salivation, it was thought, 

 caused the cure. We could raise large numbers here if the disease could be man- 

 aged. For the past three years interest has been generally lost in their production. 



PALO PINTO. Mr. P. H. Price, who has been in this county from the beginning 

 and engaged in farming and stock-raising, says: "The hog cholera was brought to 

 this county from Parker County (adjoining Palo Pinto on the east) in 1877. Pre- 

 vious to that time no contagious or general disease had been known among hogs 

 in the county. It has appeared some three or four times since. The only other 

 disease of special note was called the hog measles, which appeared some five or six 

 years since, and for one season did much damage." I am not aware that any dis- 

 ease has prevailed among hogs, horses, cattle, or sheep during the past year (1887). 



RAINS. Hog cholera first made its appearance in this county in the year 1876. 

 In the winter or spring following fat hogs died in great numbers on the range 

 after getting fat on the red-oak acorns. It has visited us every winter and spring 

 since that date when we have had mast sufficient to make them fat. The mast 

 gives out in winter when the weather is very wet and cold. As to the true cause 

 of the disease we can not say. Cattle are perfectly healthy, but die for want of 

 feed and shelter. Sheep have the scab when not properly attended to. Sheep- 

 owners who dip their sheep in carbolic preparations do well here. Hogs have the 

 cholera generally after good crops of mast. Horses are generally healthy, except 

 the diseases common to work stock. 



