DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 9 



leads the dairy interest, the grain interest, the fruit interest, and all other kinds of 

 live stock put together. But this is probably the leading county in the Union in 

 poultry production. There is nothing to hinder the business being generally extended, 

 except the drawback resulting from ignorance of the management and the ])rovailing 

 diseases. If your department can secure an appropriation to conduct an incjuiry into 

 the diseases of domestic animals, fowls included, it would certainly be to the advan- 

 tage of our agriculture. 



Mr. S. E. Stowe, Grafton, Mass., says : 



Abortion in cows, here in the central part of Worcester County, is becoming quite an 

 alarming disease. Since receiving your letter, by inquiry I find that about one-fourth 

 of our cows lose their calves, some at four, but the majority at from six to eight 

 months along, causing a loss to the farmers of one-half their value for dairy purposes. 



There has been nothing done in this vicinity, or in the State, to find out the cause 

 or discover a remedy. My own conclusion is, that the disease is caused by some weed 

 that is eaten bj"^ the cows, both in grazing and in the cured hay. 



Mr. J. S. Duncan, Cross Creek Village, Pa., says : 



In reply to your letter I will say that we have various diseases among our farm- 

 stock. The first is among cattle. The prevailing disease is among cows, commonly 

 called milk-fever. The symptoms are as follows: About twelve hours after the cow 

 drops her calf she becomes restless, switches her tail and moans occasionally as if in 

 pain. The treatment is usually to physic the animal, bathe the back with mustard 

 and warm water, and give ginger internally. The average loss of animals is about 

 three-fourths of all attacked. 



The prevailing disease among sheep is foot-rot. It commences between the toes. It 

 first appears like a scald, and spreads, until finally the entire foot becomes affected. 

 The remedies are, butter of antimony, blue vitriol, and nitric acid. Various other 

 remedies have been tried, but without effecting a perfect cure. 



The disease most common among poultry is cholera. The first sympton is extreme 

 dullness. As a general thing they will sit on the roost until they drop off dead. They 

 are usually sick from twenty-four to thirty-six hours. When this disease enters a 

 flock it is so contiigious and fatal that but few, if any, escape. Various remedies have 

 been tried, but none have proved effectual. 



Mr. J. B. Kendrick, Monticello, Ky., says : 



We suffer here mostly from hog cholera. It is impossible to give any diagnosis of 

 the disease, for it manifests itself ia numerous ways. I have seen them linger for 

 months and ultimately recover, while others would die very suddenly. Again I have 

 seen them in apparent good health, and, while eating, suddenly jump up, squeal, and 

 fall over dead. Hogs turned on the mast or acorns last winter did very well appar- 

 ently, but when killed many of them were found to be affected with worms. la 

 numerous cases worms an inch or more in length had penetrated the heart and bowels. 

 Cholera has generally been worse among our hogs after a good mast-year than any 

 other time. 



Chickens are also affected with what is known here and elsewhere as cholera. The 

 part affected most seems to be the liver, which enlarges to two or three times its natural 

 size. The fowl is always fat when attacked. The disease is very fatal. Guinea-fowls 

 and geese are occasionally attacked. 



Horses are comparatively free from diseases, except such as are brought on from bad 

 treatment. I have known two or three mares unable to bring forth their foals, for 

 Avhich no cause could be assigned by their owners. * # » What produces the 

 water-bag in colts after they are castrated ? Several that I have castrated have been 

 BO affected, but I can assign no cause for it. It greatly injures the sale of young horses 

 in the South. 



Mr. Le Grand Byington, Iowa City, Iowa, says : 



In my thirty years' experience as a farmer no subject has worried me so much as the 

 " diseases prevailing with such fatal effect among my farm-animals," and upon no sub- 

 ject, let me add, is so lamentable ignorance prevailing, among those of my occupation, 

 as upon the causes, preventives, and treatment of these prevailing diseases. In all 

 that time I do not remember an instance of an animal of mine, of the cattle or swine 

 species, that ever recovered from a serious illness. If you succeed in disseminating 

 valuable information on this important matter, you will be remembered with grati- 

 tude J and iu the effort you can rely upon my co-operation. 



