502 SWINE IN AMERICA 



Doards, etc. In the absence of a spray pump, the appli- 

 cation can be made with a whitewash brush or by means 

 of a broom. By this process, the shed, pen, or building 

 can be rendered entirely safe for the new animals, no 

 matter how susceptible to cholera. Yard fences can be 

 treated in the same way. The ground is not so easily 

 cleansed. It is true that the ground can be treated the 

 same as a floor, but a very large quantity of solution 

 would be required. It would be necessary, in order to be 

 thorough, to saturate the soil probably several inches 

 deep. Partial disinfection of the ground can, of course, 

 be accomplished by wetting the surface. The spreading 

 of lime thickly over the surface accomplishes the same 

 result, and is a good practice, but it cannot be relied 

 upon for complete disinfection. Plowing yards buries 

 much of the infection beneath the surface and thereby 

 lessens the danger, but does not make swine entirely safe 

 until the lapse of considerable time. 



"For making the disinfecting solutions referred to, 

 several preparations may be used. Crude carbolic acid, 

 zenoleum, chloro-naphtholeum and chloride of lime, com- 

 monly known as bleaching powder, have been much used. 

 Crude carbolic acid is cheap, but has the fault of mixing 

 poorly with water. For cheapness and effectiveness, few 

 preparations surpass or equal chloride of lime. Used 

 in the strength of from five to six ounces to a gallon of 

 water, it has. in the hands of the writer, proven effectual 

 in destroying the most virulent cholera virus. 



"Much depends upon the thoroughness of the appli- 

 cation. If thorough work be done, buildings and all pens 

 with floors can be safely used at once, but yards, even 



