DISEASES OF SWINE AND OTHER ANIMALS. 181 



purchasing diseased hogs at a low figiire, and taking them on his farm 

 for treatment, without fear of communicating the disease to his own 

 herd. He had some knowledge of the disease, and had treated his own 

 herd. 



Professor Law says, as quoted by the commissioner of agricidture of 

 the State of Virg-inia, '" contagion is the main cause of the disease." We 

 are satisfied that we understand the circumstances under which one may 

 contract the chills or intermittent fever, but I presume no medical man 

 wiU say that he can toucli the " disease germs," as they are termed. Con- 

 tagion cannot came it, but may aid in spreading it. 



Prevention of the disease. — In my opinion the surest means of preven- 

 tion are those of a hygienic character. Do not breed close, give the 

 animal a variety of food, keep his range clean, and protect him from 

 extremes of heat and cold. In a prairie country, where domesticated 

 animals are not allowed to run at large, I would recommend that ranges 

 for the hog should be inclosed by portable fences in sections. Posts 

 should be placed at the proper distances (they might be of iron and 

 driven) and the sections wired together or fastenings might be attached 

 to each section so as to unite at once. Constructed in this manner the 

 range may be changed to another location in a few hours. This should 

 be done once or twice a year at least, and preferably in the spring and 

 the beginning of winter. Eaise vegetables especially for them. If pos- 

 sible sow oats, and let them have the range of the field. Give them 

 fresh water to di-ink, which may be raised by a windmill and conveyed 

 through pipes to the range. Instead of having hogs to "follow" the 

 cattle, as a matter of economy, I would feed them separately, and have 

 the com for the cattle ground in a horse-power mUl. 



Eradication of the disease. — This might be effected partly through 

 State laws prohibiting the transportation through the States of hogs 

 showing evidence of disease, attention to hygienic laws, and a greater 

 admixture of the breeds known as "common stock," gradually brought 

 about. 



Treatment of tlie disease. — This is very simple if attended to in time, 

 and very few need be lost. Simply a transfer to a new range and a 

 change of food at the beginning of the disease wiQ save a great many. 

 Give the hog a purgative of soft soap, raw linseed-oil, or any simple 

 purgative ; afterward warm mashes and comfortable dry quarters. Very 

 often this is aU that is necessary to arrest the disease. As soon as his 

 nose becomes moist and the secretion is restored in his fore-legs, you 

 may count upon his recovery. A farmer told me that his herd had the 

 "cholera," and that he fed the bviag with the carcasses of those that 

 died, and his hogs recovered. Another that, having more fresh beef 

 than he wanted, fed the surplus to his herd, and they recovered. This 

 food, being unusual, acted upon their bowels, hence their recovery. 



In investigating this disease I had many obstacles to contend with. 

 There were no herds to be found within a reasonable distance (nor be- 

 yond that I was aware of) which had not been dosed with something, 

 and none so isolated as to be entirely free from contact in some way with 

 other herds. As a consequence I made no use of the clinical thermom- 

 eter, which would have given no perfect data to discourse upon. 



The first herd of hogs treated numbered forty-five head, situated on 

 high and dry land; but the range was dirty from the accumulations of 

 old manure, they having been fed on com from crib exposed to the ele- 

 ments for a considerable period. Were drinking water from a well. All 

 8ick. No other hog had been near the range except a boar, and he was 

 said to be well 5 neither had any been away from the herd. The breed 



