DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 177 



EEPOET OF DR. C. M. HINES. 



Hon. Wm. G. LeDuc, 



Commissioner of Agriculture : 



Sir : Having been honored with an appointment as an inspector of 

 diseases of domesticated animals, under the direction of the Department 

 of Agricidture, I accepted the same on the first day of August, and at 

 once took the necessary steps to find a field for an investigation, which 

 had reference more particularly to the diseases of swine. 



After diligent inqiiiiy I found the disease was not sufiiciently exten- 

 sive in the State of Kansas for any extended inquu-y into the cause 

 and remedy for " hog-cho.era," or the infectious fever of hogs. Under 

 instructions from the department I therefore proceeded to Cass county, 

 Nebraska, where it was said to x^rovail as an ei)idemic in the neighbor- 

 hood of Eight-Mile Grove. 



Upon my arrival at Plattsmouth, the county seat of Cass county, I 

 was informed that no "hog-cholera" had prevailed in that region for 

 nearly three months prior to my arrival. 



After a detention of several days in the vain effort of finding a proper 

 conveyance into the country, I at last succeeded, being aided by Mr. 

 James Hall, of Eight-Mile Grove. I was assured that I would find but 

 little of the disease, as I was too early in the season, it being more 

 prevalent in cold weather. 



As the time for investigation was limited, I determined to make as 

 much of it as possible. Passing through Cass county I found several 

 small herds under treatment by a veterinary surgeon, and in nearly 

 every case I found they were being "doctored" by the owner, or some 

 one professing to cure the disease. Also, other owners, rejecting all 

 interference, were apathetic, and seemed to consider it something beyond 

 human ken, and as one expressed it, left them to "worry through." In- 

 deed, one farmer said that he intended as soon as he was sure the disease 

 was in the herd, to "ship all those large enough for the market" — an 

 example followed by many others, making widespread havoc. From 

 Cass county I proceeded through -Otoe, to the borders of Johnson 

 county, i)assing over a large portion of both counties, returning again 

 to Plattsmouth when the time for the investigation had nearly expired. 



In arri\ring at the conclusions to be found in this article, I must be 

 permitted the privilege of argument, in order to show my reasons for the 

 same, and, fii'st, I would observe that the disease known as "hog 

 cholera," or "infectious fever of hogs," is not, as I think, so difficult of 

 solution, nor has it a protean character. 1 consider it one disease from 

 two causes having two effects. 



The hog is said to be improved by "crossing," and persons ignorant 

 scientifically of its eflects, and how far it may be carried with propriety, 

 write and speak learnedly of the matter. They attempt to imi)rovc uj)on 

 nature, and it has been carried to such an extent as to almost obliterate 

 aU traces of original breeds. They attempt also to make a distinct, 

 separate, and, as they suppose, 2)ermanent stock that will reproduce 

 itself. Although all hogs may belong to the one great family, there is 

 a law in nature that, where a great divergence has taken place from any 

 Ijarent stock, a tendency to revert must prevail, or the creatiu-o must 

 suffer from the lex talionis naturte. " So true is it that nature has 

 caprices wliich art cannot imitate." 



Persons, otherwise good. fa?;rti?i'S>..who h-avc iiuyi'oyed, thpir stp(;k^ '^s^ 

 12 sw ' ' ' 



