294 EEPOET OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



BEDFORD. The care and condition of live-stock during the year are very much 

 the same with us as from time immemorial. It is hard for us, it seems, to get out of 

 the old ruts. Few persons shelter their stock, and but little care or attention is paid 

 to feeding. Hard as have been the times with us, our necessities have not yet taught 

 the virtue of utilizing every source of profit. As to hog cholera, I do not remem- 

 ber the year of its first appearance with us, though I can well remember when the 

 only losses among hogs were from eating mushrooms, after long wet spells. Great 

 losses have been sustained in recent years. The last year nearly swept them clean all 

 around me, as well as in many other parts of the county. Horses, cattle, and sheep 

 have had no disease to do any serious damage for several years past. I am unable 

 to give any information as to the introduction of hog cholera or an approximation 

 of losses. 



CHARLES CITY. There has been no general prevalence of hog cholera this year. 

 In one or two cases the loss has been heavy, but the disease has been confined to the 

 farms on which it originated. One large farmer, for instance, lost about 80 head of 

 hogs and shoats, but none were attacked on the adjacent farms. The cholera has 

 been in this county for at least fifteen years. There is no means of knowing how 

 it was introduced. Previously the hogs were healthy. Now the disease it always 

 with us, but varying very much year to year, breaking out in the herds first is one 

 neighborhood and then in another, without any apparent cause. 



BLAND. There is no disease among any stock except hogs. This disease, known 

 as cholera, commenced 30 miles west of here some two years ago (though it has been 

 farther west for several years). It reached this county slightly in the fall and winter 

 of 1886. Last summer (in June) it raged here, leaving some farmers one animal, 

 and some none at all, according to size of herd. West of here, where it killed so 

 many a year so ago, they did not have it last summer. I think it is an epidemic 

 that passes slowly east. It has now got about 7 miles from here since last June. 

 The disease is very fatal. It kills some at once; some linger a month or more, then 

 die; some peel off as if scalded. They get well. It is like small-pox in man. If it 

 does not break out they die. I bought a patented hog medicine and used it with suc- 

 cess. I had three animals that were blind and could hardly stand, and with difficulty 

 could swallow. I gave them this medicine according to directions. They got well 

 and hearty. I think it as good a preventive as it is a cure. 



BOTETOURT. Hog cholera appeared in this county about the year 1872, but not 

 in a very malignant form. How it was introduced is somewhat of a mystery. It 

 prevailed in the counties north of us a year or two before it reached here. It seems 

 to have reached its zenith here about four years ago, since which time its malig- 

 nancy has gradually abated. When you want to be on the safe side in reference to 

 a cure for hog cholera, just say it is so far without an antidote; there is, however, 

 a treatment, not with medicine, but a quarantine treatment, and the cremation of the 

 carcasses of the dead ones will stamp the disease out in a reasonably short time. I 

 speak from the book. My manner of treatment was published in the "Industrial 

 South" several years ago; would gladly reproduce it if there was any hope of its 

 general use in localities where the disease prevails. There is no prevailing disease 

 among cattle or sheep. 



BUCHANAN. The disease known as hog cholera was first introduced in this county 

 thirty or thirty-five years ago by hogs being driven to market through the county 

 from Kentucky. Previous to that time there was no disease among hogs. No dis- 

 ease has prevailed among domestic animals except a few isolated cases of hog cholera 

 last spring, and not exceeding $50 worth died. 



BUCKINGHAM. In 1886 a disease quite fatal appeared among hogs in different 

 parts of the county, which was supposed to be cholera. It decimated hogs in the 

 county, and created great fears among hog-raisers, but it has very nearly disappeared 

 almost as suddenly as it appeared. There are no apprehensions among farmers in 

 regard to it now. 



CAMPBELL. Hog cholera has not been as general as for some years past, and some 

 sections have been entirely free from the disease. When it prevails, however, the 

 mortality is very great, especially with young hogs. There has been a great scarcity 

 of hogs for several years and the large sums of money that go out of the county 

 for meat is a serious item. I have heard of no cattle plague in any other section than 

 around Evington, where some 40 cattle died with what is called Texas fever. Some 

 disease called pink-eye has prevailed with horses, and a few have died from this 

 cause. It is common to give sulphur, copperas, ashes, and salt to hogs, with the 

 belief that it is beneficial to prevent disease. 



CAROLINE. Hog cholera made its appearance in this county in 1886. I do not 

 know how it was introduced. It was fatal except in a few instances. Many ex- 

 periments for the cure of the disease were tried. 



CHARLOTTE. As to how or when hog cholera was first introduced I have not been 



