Z DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHEE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



this direction. These names should include those of persons residing in localities 

 where diseases of a general and local character prevail, either among horses, cattle, 

 sheep, hogs, or poultry. 



I remain yours, very respectfully, 



WM. G. LE DUG, 



Covunissioner. 



In compliance with the request contained in the foregoing letter, the 

 department was promi)tly placed in possession of the names of a large 

 number of prominent farmers, stock growers, and veterinary surgeons 

 in the various Congressional districts of the country, to whom the fol- 

 lowing circular letter was addressed : 



Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C, August, 1877. 



Sir: This department being desirous of making an iuvestigatiou into the causes of 

 diseases now, and for some years past, prevailing among all classes of farm animals, 

 desires your assistance and co-operation in the proper consideration and determination 

 of a subject of such great importance to the stock breeders and growers of this country. 

 With the view of saving millions of dollars annually by the timely use of such remedies 

 and preventives as are now known or may be discovered by this investigation, the de- 

 partment desires as speedily as possible to be put in ])ossessiou of such facts as may 

 have come under your observation in relation to diseases afi'ecting horses, cattle, sheep, 

 hogs, and fowls, either in your own neighborhood or in adjacent localities. Have the 

 kindness to give as complete a diagnosis of the disease as possible, stating the dura- 

 tion of the attack, its average fatality, what remedies, if any, are used, and with 

 what success. In localities where diseases prevail among more than one class of ani- 

 mals, separate statements should be made under the name of the animals affected. 



This information will be laid before Congress as the basis of securing an ajipropria- 

 tion to meet the expenses of a thorough investigation of diseases of all classes of 

 farm animals. 



Very respectfully, &c., 



WM. G. LE DUG, 



Conunissioner. 



The responses to this circular indicated such heavy losses, among 

 swine, from the various fatal diseases affecting this class of animals, that 

 I at once determined to secure, so far as the facilities within my reach 

 would permit, as accurate returns as possible from the various States 

 and Territories of the Union the number of hogs annually raised, what 

 proportion of those sufler from disease, and what proportion of those 

 affected die, the aggregate value of the annual losses among this class 

 of animals, and also the aggregate value of annual losses among all 

 other classes of domestic animals from the various diseases to which 

 they are incident. In order to secure this information a copy of the 

 following letter was addressed to one correspondent in each county of 

 the United States : 



Departmkxt op Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C, December 21, 1877. 



Sir : This department desires to obtain reliable information in regard to the losses 

 of swine by cholera and all other diseases incident to this class of farm animals. We 

 would, therefore, thank you i»r early and definite answers to the following questions : 



1. What number of hogs are annually raised in your county ? 



2. What proportion of hogs suffer from disease ? 



3. What proportion of those attacked by disease die ? 



4. What is the money-value annually lost by disease among swine in your county ? 



5. What is the money-value of all other classes of farm animals annually lost by 

 disease in your county ? 



Very respectfully, 



WM. G. LE DUG, 



Commissioner. 



Out of two thousand four hundred and forty-seven counties (the num- 

 ber composing all the States and Territories of the United States,) 

 returns from one thousand one hundred and twentj^-live counties have 

 been received. These returns are still coming in slowly, and will, per- 

 haps, not be fully reported for some weeks to come. The data, so far 

 received, have been condensed into the following tabular statement : 



