INVESTIGATION OF SWINE-PLAGUE. 



EEPORT OF DE. H. J. DETMEES, V. S. 



Hou. W3I. G. LeDuc, 



Commissioner of Agriculture : 



Sir : Haviug" been appointed by you as one of tlie inspectors to make 

 an investigation of the diseases prevailing among swine, I forwarded to 

 you my written acceptance, immediately after I received inj appoint- 

 ment, on July 29, 1878, and took at once the necessary steps to obtain 

 reliable information as to the localities where the disease of swine, 

 known to the farmers as "hog-cholera," was at that time i)revailiug\ I 

 made also such other preparations as I deemed necessary to successful 

 investigation, and provided myself with a good Hartnack microscope, 

 divers chemicals and medicines, a clinical thermometer, &c. Among- 

 all the i)laces and localities at which the disease, as reported, was very 

 frequent, I selected Champaign, Champaign Countj', Illinois, as afford- 

 ing the gTeatest facilities for the intended investigation, or the most 

 suitable basis for my operations, and repaired to that place on the 

 second day of August. I found what I exjiected, i. <?., numerous cases 

 of disease in the vicinity of Cham])aign and Urbana, and offers of assist- 

 ance by F. W. Prentice, M. D., and M. E. C. Y. S., who is lecturer on vet- 

 erinary science in the Illinois Industrial University at Urbana, and of 

 Prof. T. J. BurriU, M. A., who is professor of botany and microscopist 

 in the same institution. Dr. Prentice had even the kindness of offering 

 to me, for experimental purposes, the free use of his veterinary infirmary 

 1 )uildiugs. That offer, of course, was accepted. Besides that. Dr. Prentice, 

 who is a very able and Avell-educated veterinary surgeon, has assisted 

 me otherwise very essentially in my work, and took charge of my ex- 

 perimental animals whenever I was obliged to be absent for a short 

 time. I am, therefore, very much indebted to him for his valuable help 

 and kind assistance. Professor Burrill has assisted me in my microscoj)- 

 ical examinations. 



Arrived at Champaign I made my plans as to the manner in which to 

 proceed with my investigation. Knowing- that an enemy can only be 

 conquered by being- well known, I determined to ascertain first the real 

 nature of the disease 1 had to deal with. That accomplished, I pro- 

 l)osed to direct my attention exclusively to investigating- and ascertain- 

 ing the causes, reasoning- that, if the causes are known, it cannot be 

 very difficult to devise proper and efficient means of prevention, and, 

 perhaps, remedies that will effect a cure. At any rate, a knowledge of 

 the causes of a disease affords not only a sound, but in fact the only 

 basis of successful prevention and rational treatment. This plan 1 have 

 executed as far as circumstances and the time gTanted ha\'e permitted 

 me to do. 



In order to become thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the so- 

 called "hog-cholera," or more appropriately "swine-plague," called 

 also typhoid, pig-typhoid, enteric fever, pneunio-enteric fever, liog or 

 swine disease, &c., I have made during the time from Angust 2ntl to 



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