i 



420 SWINE IN AMERICA 



sometimes serious enough to suggest an outbreak of 

 cholera, and instances are referred to in a bulletin en- 

 titled "Powdered Soap as a Cause of Death Among 

 Swill-Fed Hogs," issued by the Cornell experiment sta- 

 tion (Bulletin No. 141). These cases led to experi- 

 ments with powdered soap, which showed conclu- 

 sively that swill-fed hogs were poisoned by being 

 given dishwater containing washing powders used in 

 kitchens. The soap powders contain from 50 to 55 per 

 cent carbonate of sodium, or what is known to the trade 

 as sal soda or washing soda. 



The following conclusions were reached : "In view of 

 this danger, it seems better to abandon altogether the 

 habit of giving dishwater to hogs. Although the feed- 

 ing of garbage is generally condemned, the scraps of 

 vegetables and table refuse could, perhaps, if properly 

 collected, be used with safety. But certainly pure water 

 is a much more wholesome drink, even for swine, than 

 dirty dishwater. When the subject of 'swill feeding' 

 as a business is studied, and the conditions as they exist 

 are understood, the wonder is, not that some of the hogs 

 die, but rather that any of them live. 



"It is not presumed that the poisoning by carbonate of 

 sodium is the only cause of death among swill-fed hogs. 

 Other destructive agencies are liable to be found in the 

 decomposing garbage and swill collected from the 

 sources mentioned. This is significant and it points to 

 the undesirableness of feeding garbage to animals. In 

 fact, if the total losses it occasions are counted, it is 

 questionable if anything is gained in this attempt to save 

 waste products. Again, it has long been recognized that 



