SWINE AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 947 



day to day for weeks there is always soiled corn lying by them, 

 and they do not come to their food with a good appetite. I 

 believe such feeding to be not only wasteful, but also to make 

 the hogs more susceptible to disease, and that the farmer who 

 feeds regularly as to time and quantity, and by the use of salt, 

 ashes, and charcoal, maintains a vigorous appetite and good diges- 

 tion, gets the largest gain from his food and reduces the risk of 

 loss from any and all diseases. 



Still another fruitful cause of disease is often found in the 

 arrangements for sleeping. The hogs are not assorted so as to 

 have large and small by themselves, but a large number of all 

 sizes are allowed to pile up together, often in a damp bed, with 

 but little protection from wind or rain. Those in the center of 

 the heap are too hot, and the outer ones too cold. I have often 

 in a cold winter morning seen the hogs come from such a bed 

 steaming as though just out of a hot bath. Even when a dry 

 floor is provided with sufficient protection from cold it is often 

 the case that the bedding is allowed to become foul and dusty, 

 so as to be unfit for use. The beds should be changed before 

 they reach this stage and fresh litter given. I have found corn 

 fodder excellent for this purpose, as the hogs will eat the blades 

 and tear the stalks to shreds, and the bed will remain clean 

 much longer than if made from straw. 



I believe that attention to the points which I have named 

 will, in a great majority of cases, prevent disease, and while the 

 selection and application of remedies involves trouble and ex- 

 pense, and is, after all is done, of doubtful utility, these prevent- 

 ive measures are simple, and sure to result in good to the herd 

 and profit to the owner. 



