6 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



Mr. R. A. Steele, Lawrence, Kans., says : 



In reply to inquiries in regard to diseases among farm-animals in this neigliborhood, 

 I would say that the most serious is a disease among hogs, commonly known as " hog 

 cholera." In October, 1876, I had on hand seventy-five hogs, averaging 115 pounds 

 per head, for the purpose of feeding with or following cattle. They were mostly of 

 the Berkshire breed, and seemed in fine condition. The feed and water were good. 

 In December they commenced cougliing, and soon after dying, until I lost over half 

 the number. I finally turned them out in a corn-field which contained some wet 

 ground, in which they spent most of the time rooting. The disease was arrested, and 

 uo more of them died. Tliey visited some of my neigiibors' hogs, but did not convey 

 the disease to them. I examined several of those tbafc died, and came to the conclu- 

 sion that the lungs were affected. 



I found tiie same disease existing among hogs throughout the country. I do not re- 

 gard it as the same disease of which so many hogs died in 187,3 and 1874. I think 

 they were affected with worms. 



My opinion is that hogs are forced, and fed, and bred too young — a mushroom growth. 

 As a remedy, we should use matured sows and males for breeding, and allow them to 

 run in pastures. They should not be fed and fattened until a year or eighteen months 

 old. To insure healthy meat and do credit to the hog product, such a system must be 

 adopted. 



Cattle as a rule, are healthy, but there is some complaint among calves. Those in 

 good condition in the fall seem to be liable, to the attack of a disease known as "black 

 leg." My remedy has been a preventive (I have never cured one), as follows: Salt 

 "well, with a small quantity of saltpeter. 



Mr. M. B. HiNB, Austerlitz, Kent County, Michigan, says: 



This portion of Mich'gan has thus far been comparatively exempt from any prevail- 

 ing disease among onr domestic animals, with the exception of epizootic among horses 

 during the fall and winter of 187'2-'73, which was here attended with but little loss by 

 the death of the animals themselves, but the produce of the mares then in foal proved 

 to be weak and debilitated. Since that time there has been considerable distemver 

 occurring annually not unlike the epizootic, but quite mild in form, which readily 

 yields to an outward application of some counter-irritant on the glands, at the same 

 time keeping the bowels relaxed by feeding bran mashes, meanwhile working lightly. 



Last spring there was a general fatality among the young i)igs, and in some in- 

 stances with the autumn pigs in the latter part of the winter, there being no apparent 

 sickness discovered i)rior to their death. At least such was the case in this immediate 

 vicinity ; but I noticed that this all disappeared as soon as the hogs were turned out 

 to grass. The conclusion I arrived at is, we must furnish a greater variety of food for 

 our hogsdnring our Jong winters, particularly of roots and vegetables, instead of feed- 

 ing all corn, as is usually the practice with most western farmers. 



Robert Vanvoorhis, importer and breeder of thoroughbred Ameri- 

 can merino sheep, Monongahela City, Pa., says : 



I have been a breeder of American merino sheep for over thirty years. For six 

 years or more the sheep of this vicinity have been afflicted with a disease commonly 

 known as " paper skin." It has proved very fatal, especially to young sheep, thou- 

 sards having died annually. It is more prevalent and more fatal to young sheep in 

 August, about the time of weaning. Sheep of my own breeding have never been 

 affected by the disease ; but I have lost a great many lambs that I had purchased of 

 others. Those attacked, if they did not die the first fall, were sure to do so the next 

 season. I bought twenty-five ram lambs, which I took extra good care of the first 

 year. Though they did not thrive as well as those of my own l)reeding, I had hopes 

 that they would escape the disease. Lnst July I noticed that they began to show 

 symptoms of the malady, and, having a large flock of yearlings, I took out those 

 affected and gave them extra good care. I commenced to feed sul[)hur and copperas 

 to them, but without any perceptible effect. After five had died I doubled the dose, 

 giving a tablespoonfnl of pulverized copperas every other day ; but this did not seem 

 to stay the ravages of the disease. I coniinued this until I had but five left. The 

 dung of those that died last was white with worms, which Avere from one to four 

 inches in length. After my entire ti-ock of twenty-five had died, I thought if I had 

 commenced with a heavy dose as soon as the first symptoms were observed, I might 

 have saved some of the lambs. In order, therefore, to test the remedy further, I in- 

 formed some of my neighbors, who gave it a thorough trial, but without success. 



I was recently in the eastern part of Ohio, where I found the sheep affected with the 

 same disease. It seems to be as fatal there as it is here. I am in receipt of a letter 

 from Col. J. W. Watts, of Martin's Depot, S. C, who informs me that he has 



