16 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



Mr. Freeman Walker, North Brookfield, Mass., says: 



On some of onr farms a larjije percentage of the cows abort their calves from one to 

 four mouths before the time of calving. In some towns this has taken place from year 

 to year, and the farmers know of no cause or remedy. I am expecting to come in con- 

 tact with some of our farmers who have suffered in this way, and if I can get any 

 facts of importance, I will communicate them to you. 



Mr. T. N. Braxton, Paoli, Ind., says : 



In this locality all classes of farm-animals, except hogs, have thus far escaped all 

 diseases. The hogs in Southern Indiana have been diseased for the last year Avith what 

 is known as cholera. Sometimes they are constipated, and at other times affected 

 ■with vomiting and purging. Different remedies have been tried, but none of them 

 have been attended with success. I have been feeding three hundred head this sum- 

 mer, in a lot in wliich there is a spring of ruiiniag water. The water is very brackish, 

 and leaves a sediment in the branch that looks like copperas. I also give my hogs 

 ashes and salt. I have not lost one out of my entire lot with this disease. Other farmers 

 in my neighborhood have had the disease among their hogs and have lost a great 

 many. Salt and ashes may be a preventive, or the water from the spring may be ; or, 

 possibly, good luck alone may have caused my hogs to escape. 



Mr. Joseph Hole, Butlerville, Ind., says: 



I am pleased that you are taking steps toward having an investigation of the causes 

 of the fearful maladies to which farm-animals are subject. I shall be very glad to 

 render you any assistance in my power for the furtherance of so laudable an object. 

 Horses, "cattle, and sheep are comparatively Jiealthy. Chicken-cholera prevails to some 

 extent, but not sufficiently to affect the interest. 



The hog disease has prevailed in this and adjoining counties for several years, more, 

 I think, as an epidemic than as a contagious disease. Cholera is a misnomer, so far, 

 at least, as a large majority of the cases coming under my observation are concerned. 

 Perhaps erysipelas or diphtheria would better describe the disease, although neither of 

 these would, in all cases, be correct. What renders a description of the disease more 

 difficult is, that while there are some general symptoms, such as loss of appetite with 

 6trong febrile tendencies, yet in a herd of hogs there will be a great variety of forms 

 of attack. Thus several cases of sudden and complete paralysis have occurred. While 

 the hog, previously in good health, was running for the feed prepared for it, it has beea 

 stricken down precisely as when shot in the brain with a bullet. In such cases, post- 

 mortem examinations fail to discover any unnatural appearance of the intestines; but 

 the condition of the lungs generally indicates strong symptoms of congestion. 



One of the common symptoms that precede an attack of the disease is a dry, hack- 

 ing cough. This, however, may continue for months without any further manifesta- 

 tion of the disease, though generally it is followed by the next symptom, a loss of ap- 

 petite. And here any of the forms incident to the disease, and which no one can fore- 

 tell, may set in. Intestinal fever is a common attendant of the maladJ^ In my own 

 observation the bowels, as a rule, are constipated, the animal passing only small, hard 

 pellets. Very rarely fetid diarrhea is observed. About 70 or 80 per cent, of the 

 cases prove fatal. Of those that recover, complete convalescence is not established 

 under six or eight weeks, and even then no one will buy ihem if those that have 

 never been affected can be had. 



No panacea has been found for this terrible disease, nor has any treatment been tried, 

 so far as I know, that can be recommended. The use of antiseptics is perhaps the 

 best treatment. Bisulphate of soda, sulphate of iron, turpentine, charcoal, opium, 

 nitrate of silver, carbolic acid, and creosote, have all been tried, and all have failed in 

 bad cases. Preventives are better than cures. As a rule, those who give their hogs 

 the best feed while in health, and look most carefully to their sanitary condition, escape 

 •with less loss than those who are less careful. 



D. W. VoTLES, M. D., New Albany, Ind., says : 



I am in receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, asking my assistance and co-op- 

 eration in furnishing certain information in regard to the diseases coming within the 

 range of my observation that affect the domestic or farm animals in this section of the 

 country, and in reply would state that I fully appreciate the necessity of such a move- 

 ment, looking, as it does, to the protection of the interests of such a large and impor- 

 tant class of onr population. The assistance I may be able to render you will prove of 

 but little practical value at present, but may serve as an argument for the necessity 

 of your undertaking, if argument is needed. 



There has been no prevailing epidemic in this section of the State within the past 



