EEPOET OF THE BUEEATJ OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 297 



disease, though I saw nothing more of it for several years. Previous to that time 

 hogs were healthy, with the exception of a little quinsy in very dry weather. 



MADISON. The first appearance of hog cholera in this county was in the year 

 1862. It was so malignant that dogs eating of the carcasses would live but a short 

 time. The disease was in a milder form until the last two years, when in many in- 

 stances it took the last hog from some farmers. 



MATHEWS. Hog cholera made its appearance in this county about fourteen years 

 ago. For the last five years it has been much worse, many persons losing all they 

 had. Previously the disease was unknown. Many persons advocate the regular 

 use of salt and ashes to eradicate the disease ; others say nothing but the burning of 

 the dead and dying has proved effectual. 



NANSEMOND. Hog cholera first made its appearance in this county during the 

 year 1861. The symptoms were vomiting and purging. ^Sometimes the animals 

 were troubled with cough, and frequently with cutaneous eruptions. For several 

 years afterwards this disease recurred at irregular intervals, but then a different 

 form of cholera prevailed, equally if not more fatal than the original disease. Per- 

 haps this later disease is not cholera. Indeed I am decidedly of the opinion it is 

 not. Don't know anything of its origin or mode or means of its introduction, but 

 previous to 1861 no disease was known among hogs in this county or section of the 

 State. 



NEW KENT. No cholera this year. Hogs have been subject to the disease at va- 

 rious times for the last fifteen years. They were healthy before that time. 



NORTHUMBERLAND. The first appearance of hog cholera in this county occurred 

 during the year 1863. It was very fatal that year. Since that time it has occasion- 

 ally made its appearance, but not fatally or generally over the county. In some lo- 

 calities it was bad last year. We generally consider the hog worthless after an 

 attack of cholera. If it does not die it never amounts to much. We know of no 

 remedy. The disease usually occurs during fall, when the hogs are in good order 

 and on pastures, and it can not be attributed to filthy pens. 



ORANGE. Hog cholera first appeared in this county in 1884, but was most fatal 

 in 1885. Twenty-five per cent, of those affected died. Don't know how it was 

 first introduced. Has been sporadic in its attacks, never affecting all the herds in 

 a neighborhood, some farms losing all while the next neighbor would lose none with 

 no apparent difference in treatment. No established preventive or remedy has 

 been found. My hogs have never had it. They have salt and ashes freely, which 

 no doubt conduces to general health, and enables the animal to resist the contagion. 

 Before the appearance of cholera hogs were generally healthy. A few cases of 

 scours in calves and colts have been reported. Farm stock generally entered the 

 winter in good condition, and there is abundant forage. Ensilage is becoming more 

 popular, and stock is better sheltered and cared for. 



PITTSYLVANIA. I think hog cholera first made its appearance in this county 

 about the year 1874. Previous to that time it was unknown. Since that time I 

 suppose one-half the hogs in the county have died. No remedy has yet been dis- 

 covered for it, as far as I know. I am inclined to think that hogs bedding in old 

 straw or in old houses where it is dry and dusty are more liable to the disease. 

 Last year I lost more than two-thirds of my hogs. This year I have paid more at- 

 tention to their bedding, furnishing fresh leaves and tobacco stalks for bedding, 

 and early in the spring I put them in my apple orchard where there was plenty of 

 clover and green apples. Although nearly all of them had the cholera it was in a 

 mild form, and none of them died. I also gave them sour slops once a day. I shall 

 continue the same treatment for the next year. 



PRINCE GEORGE. Up to 1884 hog cholera was not known in our county, but in 

 1884-'85 it swept off every hog some of our farmers had. The cause of the disease 

 has never been known to us, but I have never known a herd that was in good con- 

 dition and well cared for to have it. It has been all around me within a half mile 

 each way, but I have never had a case yet. I keep a slop barrel in my lot, and have 

 all of the slops from the cook room put in it and fed to the hogs. I attribute my 

 escape to the grease and soap that is in the slop water. I know of no other reason, 

 as I have never used any other preventive. I am not a large hog-raiser; from 30 to 

 50 head is generally the extent of my stock. 



RAPPAHANNOCK. The hog cholera in our county has been local this year. Soon 

 after the close of the war the disease made its first appearance here. Before that time 

 hogs were generally healthy. 



RICHMOND. Hog cholera, or a disease very much like it, commenced down here in 

 the summer and fall of 1885. In 1886 it was very bad, some losing nearly all their 

 hogs, and what few remained did not do well. Meat was very scarce, so that it had 

 to be shipped down from Baltimore. But this year has been free from disease, though 

 not a full supply raised, that is, as many as three years ago. All other stock free 



