DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 157 



thi8 or yoiue similar manner, but left to its own natural course, as a rule 

 it moves steadily along, taking in each I'arm in tiu-n. There are but few 

 exceptions to this mle. 



In the northern part of this county it is particularly observed on roads 

 over which dead hogs have been ti'ansported that hundreds of animals 

 are suffering all along the line of these roads with the same peculiarity 

 of attack as is witnessed by the live diseased hogs passing. In \-iew of 

 these facts, it is fail* to presume that Mr. O'Mera's herd contracted the 

 disease from the stock-trains on the Chicago, Eock Island and Pacific 

 Railroad. From this herd it began to spread to the adjoining farms, 

 going up the bluffs to herds on farms situated along the bluff. 



In June, 1877, it struck Mr. A. Strawn's herd, and he lost very heavily. 

 West of Mr. Stiawn's it attacked Mrs. Hardy's herd, and she lost nearly 

 all. The next farm west, which was only separated by a common board 

 fence, on each side of which hogs were confined, it did not attack, and 

 the owner attributed his immunity to adding sulphur to the swill fed his 

 hogs ; but it went east, taking several farms, and was only arrested for 

 want of material to prey upon. 



From Mr. O'Mera's it crossed the Illuiois and I\Iichigan Canal, and 

 extended east and west up and down the Illinois Eiver. 



Mr. J. Delbridge had a herd of young hogs, which ho sold late in the 

 fall at an auction sale. At the time of sale it was not supposed that his 

 herd was affected, but the heard adjoining his had been dying for some 

 time. The sale was made, and different parties pui'chased the pigs, took 

 them home, and placed them with their own hogs. In a few days after 

 it was noticed that these pigs were diseased, and every herd in which 

 they were placed, without a single exception, was attacked by the dis^ 

 ease in question. In the herds thus contammated the disease lingered 

 until the spring, but it did not spread much until warm weather, and 

 since the growth of vegetation became rank it has spread all over the 

 southern ])art of the county, destroying not less than $50,000 to $70,000 

 worth of hogs up to this time, and it is still ragiug. One great source 

 of spreading the disease is observed by the small pigs wandering to the 

 herds of adjoiuing farms, and thus importing the malady. Farmers 

 usually confine their hogs in lots only sufiiciently fenced to keep in the 

 large ones, hence the small pigs readily escape and gain access to other 

 herds. Many farmers tell mo that when their herds are sick they do not 

 know what becomes of the small pigs, as they all disappear and seldom 

 return. Wlien asked if they know how theii- herd contracted the dis- 

 ease, they very frequently answer, "Well, one morning I noticed a 

 strange pig in my herd which was sick, and in about ten days or tAvo 

 weeks mine began to die." Another instance proving thai! the disease 

 is transmitted by those infected occurred only a few days ago. Mr. 

 Dunlavy, who lives north of the Illinois Eiver, in Ottawa township, 

 l)urchase(l five pigs from a Mr. Poundstone, who lives in the infected 

 district south of the river. Soon after JMr. Dunlavy placed those jiigs 

 in his herd he noticed they were sick. Two of them soon died, and this 

 morning he tells me he has lost seventy of the remainder of his herd 

 and all his sjiiall pigs; also lost eleven of his fat hogs. He had one 

 liundred and ten head, all told. Mr. Poundstone tells me he has lost 

 his own since selling those to j\[r. Dunlavy. 



The same rule holds true by i)lacing well ])igs in a diseased herd. In 

 March last three well ])igs were placed in a (liseased herd, and in a- short 

 time they v.ere taken sick. This shows that the disease retained sulfi- 

 (;ient vitality tlnough the winter to iiii])art itself in the spring. I care- 

 fully examined three of these cases, and found the disease a typical case. 



