136 DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 



to depend entirely npon my own observations for tlic material of this 

 essay, and I will say in defense of the position or theories I advance, 

 that they are my conclusions after inspecting- over three hundred herds 

 of diseased swine in various counties of this State, and after a careful 

 dissection of nearly one hundi^ed diseased anima.ls. In justice to the 

 farmers of Iowa, it is mi^^ duty to state that I received much valuable 

 assistance from their hands. During the progress of my investigations 

 prominent symptoms were pointed out by farmers who had made the 

 disease a study, and I am only sorry that I cannot give each one credit 

 for his particular contribution. I made my " headquarters in the field," 

 and strived to obtain a thorough knowledge of the subject in all its 

 details. I was forced to abandon the use of the microscope after a few 

 days' trial. 



HOG-CHOLERA. 



Definition. — Any contagious or infectious disease attacking swine with 

 usually fatal results. This definition will inckide all fatal diseases that 

 are contracted by one hog from another, either by direct contact or by 

 contact with the discharges or exhalation of any diseased animal, or the 

 gases arising from any contaminated matter. Under this head can be 

 properly included the three diseases I have discovered during my investiga- 

 tion, viz., dijjhtheria, typMis, and typhouJ fever. The definition will exclude 

 worms, lung-fever, pneumonia, pleurisy, or any special inflammation of 

 internal viscera which are the results of climatic influences, vicissitudes of 

 weather, or improper food. I am led thus accurately to define the disease 

 and draw the line of distinction, because I have repeatedly foiuid droves of 

 swine suffering with so-called hog-cholera, w hen, in reality, there was no 

 contagious disease whatever prevailing, but they were sick and dying 

 because the rules of common sense had not been observed in their care. 

 Because a number of hogs in a drove are taken sick at one time and with 

 like symi)tons, it does not follow that they are suffering from any conta- 

 gious disease, and the sooner the fact is impressed upon the farmers the 

 better it wiU be for their pockets. Often it is not medicine that is needed 

 but a change of food. I will give a few cases which will best illus- 

 trate the ideas I wish to convey. Mr. B. kept his swine in a lot of one 

 acre, more or less, where they had but little exercise, regular food, and 

 sheltered bed. After gathering his corn he turned his entire drove into 

 the field to glean. They also had the range of a forty-acre wood lot. 

 Two days after he found a number of his shoats sick, five of which soon 

 died. The <lisease was pneumonia or lung-fever. Morbid anatomy in 

 each case showed at least one lung hepatized and inflammation of pleura. 



Cause. — The hogs were ]>reviously confined without exercise and had 

 regular food and sheltered bed. They were tlien turned out in large 

 range, exercised fully (espertally the shoats), slept on bare ground at a 

 time when the weather changed suddenly colder, and the result was 

 lung-fever and death. No medication was needed to prevent the healthy 

 shoats contracting the disease, and a little care and simple medication 

 would have jirobably cured the sick. 



Mr. M. kept his hogs on a clover and grass range. Tliey had stag- 

 nant water for drinking, and sour, fermented swill was fed freely twice 

 a day. The land was flat river bottom, with black soil ; i-ingers were 

 used to i)revent rooting ; no roots, vegetables, or corn were given. The 

 natural result of such errors in diet was sickness, emaciation, and death. 

 First, the young pigs juned away; sudamina a])peared upon the eye- 

 lids, nose, and ears, and one animal after another was attacked with 

 convidsions and died. The brood sows and stock hogs soon followed in 



