8 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



Counter-irritants of mustard on the back, with very hot cloths changed every five min- 

 utes. Medicines : Digitalis, tartar-emetic, and niter. Diagoosis : Total loss of strength 

 in their feet within three hours after the attack; high fever, constant moaning, legs 

 cold and sprawled out. 



Our sheep suffered throughout last winter with a disease similar to the epizootic. 

 In many cases all the yearlings in some flocks died. The older ones were not affect-d. 

 The attack would commence with bard coughing, loss of api»etite, general debility, &c. 

 The farmers pronounced it fatal. When told what to do to relieve them they answered 

 it was no use, as niediciue had failed to have any efl'ect. Should the disease occur 

 again during the coming winter I will give it close attention and report. 



Mr. Nathaniel Vose, Whittier, 111., says : 



Last spring, horses here were attacked by what is commonly known as "horse-dis- 

 temper," with some difficulty of breathing, &c. Their heads swelled to the point of 

 the muzzle, and sores commenced to gather and break on all parts of the head, and 

 discharged freelj', with the usual running at the nose. The usual remedies of physic 

 and smoking condition-powders with leather, and in some cases roweling and bleediug, 

 were resorted to, but they were of no avail, as death ensued after one or two months. 

 From my observation of a yearling colt, it seemed to be afl'ected like a person with the 

 scarlet fever, excepting there was no difficulty in swallowing food or drink. The gath- 

 erings continued and the colt became very much emaciated, yet was able to walk about 

 until it died. Two and three year olds have died with it, but no old mares. It seemed 

 to be a malignant type of horse-distemper. The disease was similar to others which 

 had the distemper very light, only the head swelled enormously in the fatal cases. 



The foot-rot in sheep has heretofore prevailed to some extent, but is about eradicated. 

 Sulphuric acid and copperas are the general and successful remedies. 



Last year there were some losses by hog cholera, but no cases came under my per- 

 sonal observation. This stock is generally healthy hereabouts. A short time ago I 

 noticed one of my pigs had what, I believe, is called the " thumps." This was the only 

 case I ever saw. The pig would pant or jerk almost like a person with the hiccoughs, 

 only the jerk seemed more in the abdomen than in the chest. It grew thin aud died 

 after about six weeks. 



A. M. Dickie, M. D., Dojlestowu, Pa., says : 



I have given some little attention to the ailments of fowls, as I keep a few and am 

 interested in them. The diseases incident to the poultry-yard are very little under- 

 stood, aud the result is enormous aggregate losses every year. In the general investi- 

 gation and study of the diseases of farm-stock, veterinary science has, so far, ignored 

 or omitted to study the ailments of poultry, mainly, perhaps, from the fact that poul- 

 try are looked upon as inferior, or subsidiary farm-stock, and of little or no account 

 anyhow. This is a misapprehension, because the poultry interest is really an impor- 

 tant one, susceptible of alm.ost indefinite expansion and usefulness. 



The hiuderances to poultry-keeping may be arranged in three classes: 1. Parasitic 

 diseases. 2. Catarrhal diseases. 3. Poultry cholera. 



In the first of these classes, the main trouble is the gape disease, produced by a para- 

 sitic worm in the trachea of young chickens and turkeys. 



In the second class the principal diseases is rouj). This is common to all ages, and 

 prevails mostly from November to May, and is much more prevalent north of the 

 fortieth parallel than south of it. I think there are at least lour distinct diseases 

 included in the gen> ral term j'Ohjj. 



The prevailing disease in poultry in the summer months, or from May to November, 

 is poultry cholera. This is much the most serious and fatal of the hiuderances, and has 

 discouraged many poialtry-keepers south of the fortieth parallel, as it is mainly devel- 

 oped south of this line. 



These diseases are all epidemic in character. They extend over large sections, are 

 very destructive, and in some localities have greatly discouraged people to the detri- 

 ment of the interest iu poultry production. 



If poultry-keepers knew how to manage or control these three classes of ailments, 

 most of the hiuderances would be overcome. Any investigation which will tend to re- 

 move or overcome them will be gladly accepted by the people as a needed assistance in 

 protecting an important and growing industry. 



The general public has no ai>preciation of the importance and value of the poultry 

 industry in our couutry, and especially on the Norrh Atlantic slope and Lower Lake 

 region. The annual products of the poultry-yards of the uation are variously estimated 

 at from $200,000,000 to $450,000,000. The truth is probably between these extreme 

 figures. 



The annual poultry products of Bucks County are very near $2,000,000, and amount 

 to more in value than any other industry pursued in the county as a specialty. It 



