41 



SWINE FEVER (HOG CHOLERA AND SWINE 

 PLAGUE). 



GREAT BRITAIN. 



This disease, under the system followed by the officers 

 of the Board of Agriculture, decreased steadily from 1894 till 

 the end of 1897, as w ^^ be seen from the report of the chief 

 veterinary officer, the number of outbreaks confirmed during 

 1897 being 2,155 as against 5,166 in 1896 and 6,305 in 1895. 



During the early months of the present year, however, the 

 number of outbreaks have rapidly increased. Considering the 

 previous successful management and large sums spent annu- 

 ally by the Board of Agriculture in their efforts to get rid of 

 the disease, the results are very disappointing. This is due to 

 several causes, among them the density of the population and 

 the mildness and humidity of the climate which favours the 

 existence of the bacilli of this disease. In the towns, villages, 

 and suburbs of cities large numbers of people occupy cheap 

 houses with old stone outbuildings, many of the latter having 

 been used as piggeries for a long period of time. Few of the 

 people occupying such houses and keeping pigs understand 

 or take any trouble about disinfection. As a consequence the 

 work of the officers of the Board is surrounded by difficulties. 



Published reports show that in Great Britain, during the 

 month of February last alone, 4,327 swine were killed on 

 account of this disease out of a total number of about 2,342- 

 302, while in Canada only 3,395 were killed in the last twelve 

 months out of about an equal number. In Great Britain the 

 disease is extending, while in Canada it is rapidly decreasing. 



This is to be accounted for by our dry atmosphere, our 

 bright sunlight (the best of all disinfectants), our more scat- 

 tered population ; and also probably by our more energetic 

 methods, especially the slaughtering of all exposed swine, 

 leaving none of the chronic infective animals which cause so 

 many unexpected outbreaks. 



