DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANBiALSV » , 173 



3 AND OTHER ANIMALS/ / . 173 



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EEPORT OF DK. J. N. McjS'UT 





Hou. Wm. G. Le Due, \\ Ca f ^ ' f y 



missioner of Agriculture : \ .. ^ ^ 



ave the honor to report that, in obedience to iiistruci 

 tmeut, I have devoted the past two months to the 



tion of diseases of swine. Though my labor has been confined to one 



Commissioner of Agriculture : \ ' r ( ) 1 1 



Sir : I have the honor to report that, in obedience to instructions ttobaX / i 

 youi* department, I have devoted the past two months to the investiga- " *^« 



county (Jefferson), I had abundance of material, and have examined 

 several hundred diseased hogs, and made thirty liost mortem examina- 

 tions. 



While the results of my exi)eriments and examinations may not be as 

 satisfactory as could be wished, I am cominced, first, of the nature of 

 the disease, and, secondly, that if it cannot be cured in all cases, it can 

 by proper hygienic measures be with much certainty prevented. 



I have aimed to have the results of my examinations as practical as 

 possible, and will endeavor to present them devoid of any scientific 

 theories. 



The disease has, in this county, as in other portions of the State, pre- 

 vailed in different localities for a niunber of years. It usually begins 

 in early spring-, and increases in extent and severity until the late sum- 

 mer and fall months, disappearing- toward the approach of winter, only 

 to appear in another locaUty with the return of spring-. Although in 

 different seasons and locahties it presents different symptoms, it is evi- 

 dently the same fatal enemy to the pig raiser, only in another garb. 

 Unfortunately, as the name of a disease should convey some idea of its 

 nature, this dreaded scourge is called "hog-cholera," why we know not, 

 unless from its rapid and almost certain fatality. 



While the pathological conditions found in my examinations were 

 many arnd varied, yet the main lesions pointed to the intestinal mucous 

 membrane and lungs, with sufficient uniformity to clearly indicate the 

 nature of the disease ; and as it is clearly shown that the disease, while 

 contagious, is not communicable to other animals nor to man, it is evi- 

 dently a specific contagious disease sui generis — typhoid fever of swine. 

 The disease occasionally begins suddenly with symptoms of a chill, the 

 pig standing drawn up and shivering on the sunny side of a barn or fence. 

 But the disease generally begins more insidiously, and the first thing 

 noticed is, in a previously healthy pig, a dull appearance with a T\"i'inkled, 

 drawn look about the head and neck. It stands with back hiunped, 

 head and shoulders drooping, eyes listless and watery; loss of ap])etite, 

 or i)erhaps eats for a few moments and then stands over its fooil with 

 an appearance of loathing- ; sometimes it show a disposition to nausea, 

 great and constant tldi'st, increased temi)eratui-e, first about breast and 

 • belly, and after one or two days extending over body and limbs. Fever 

 at first of a remittent character ; temperature in rectum 102'^-10I° F., 

 in morning ; in the evening rises to 10GO-109° F. Has hacking cough, 

 which is increased on exertion ; sometimes attended with frothy (white 

 or yellowish) and in last stage offensive discharge from the nose. 

 Breathing rapid and labored, with drawing in of the flanks; panting. 

 Bowels usually, at first, constipated ; in some continue so ; in others 

 become lax after a few days, to bo i'rcquently followed, especially in pro- 

 tracted cases, by very dark fetid diarrhea. Kidneys usually act well, 

 though urine is generally scanty and liigh colored. In very nuilignant 

 cases it is suppressed. As the disease i)rogressos the ])atient shows a 

 disi)Osition to got away from tlic lierd ; lies on its belly under straw, 

 brush, or any place for a shade ; is stirred up with difficulty ; walks with 



