DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 45 



I think the bowels of the auiiual are affected in very few cases of late years, and, there- 

 fore, thfe symptoms do not answer to those of cholera. 



We have tried a great many remedies — some patented, others vouched for by honest 

 and sanguine men. None of them proved of any avail, however, either as a remedy or 

 as a preventive. 



As our swine had been free from disease three years previous to this fatal visitation, 

 ■we had great expectations from them, and had increased the number. But they are 

 about all gone ; perhaps enough are left to supply the farmers with their own meat. 

 We would be exceedingly thankful if some remedy or preventive could be discovered 

 by which the disease could be controlled. 



Mr. W. W. Barnes, Howard, Howard County, Indiana, says : 



If there is any disease prevailing among farm animals in this county, except among 

 hogs, it has not come to my knowledge. The so-called hog-cholera has, for the last 

 jear, prevailed to an alarming extent. In some cases the losses have been so great 

 where large herds were held as to cause financial ruin. At this time a general feeling 

 prevails against risking capital in this important staple. 



The term cholera is generally used to designate the disease, but I doubt if a case of 

 genuine cholera has occurred. In some localities a disease known as quinsy has pre- 

 vailed — swelling of throat and jaws, attended with high inflammation. No remedy is 

 known. In some cases, the knife was used in laying open the parts affected ; but the 

 recoveries were not as high as 10 per cent. 



Pneumonia, or congestion of the lungs, is, I think, the real disease. After the hogs 

 lose their appetites and refuse to eat they live from twelve to forty-eight hours. Death, 

 when it comes, is instantaneous. The animals fall dead in the i)aths in which they 

 travel, or die in the beds in which they sleep. Where they fall in snow there is not a 

 sign of a struggle. They are always found on their bellies, as though their walk had 

 been instantaneously arrested. All remedies seem worthless. 



jVIt. W. T. Pace, Centre, Kentucky, says : 



There is no disease among farm stock in this section of country except among hoga. 

 The disease prevailing among this class of animals has been very destructive. There 

 has never yet been a remedy found that seemed to do much good. Mandrake-roots and 

 red-oak bark, boiled down to a strong decoction and given freely, is the best remedy 

 that we have found. The hogs are attacked in different ways. Generally an eruption 

 of small red pimples breaks out over the entire body, but are most prominent on the 

 breast and belly; their breathing is accompanied by a wheezing sound; their bowels 

 are inclined to be too active. At least 90 per cent, of those attacked in this way die. 

 Other symptoms are manifested by thumjjing in the sides of the animal. The hog be- 

 comes stupid, and will refuse to eat or drink anything for several days. This is not a 

 very fatal disease. There is still another phase of the disease, in which the bowels are 

 constipated. In those examined after death the faeces matter is found in hard, round 

 lumps, the size of walnuts. It seems impossible for them to have an operation of the 

 bowels. They live but a few days, and seem to suffer a great deal. Epsom salts, 

 cream-tartar, and castor-oil are the only remedies that have ever done any good. The 

 mortality is about 80 per cent. 



Mr. S. H. Blddinger, Westport, Decatur County, Indiana, says : 



Inflammation of the kidneys is a common disease here among horses. The early 

 symptoms of the disease are those of fever ; the horse is nervous and frequently looks 

 around at his sides ; stands with his hinder legs wide apart ; is unwilling to lie down ; 

 shrinks when the loins are pressed, where some degree of heat is felt; the urine ia 

 voided in small quantities; frequently it is highly colored and sometimes bloody. The 

 treatment consists in bleeding freely ; next an active purge should be administered 

 and counter-irritation excited as near as possible to the seat of the disease. For this 

 purpose the loins should be covered with a mustard poultice. The horse should be 

 warmly clothed. No diuretic should be given, but after the first effects of the purging 

 have ceased small doses of white hellebore with tartar-emetic may be given. The 

 animal's legs should be bandaged and plenty of water offered him. His food should 

 also be carefully examined. 



I have had some experience with the disease known as hog-cholera, and regard it as 

 either a congestion of the lungs or of the bowels. A pont-rnortem examination disclosed 

 the fact that those that run off at the bowels show a diseased condition of the liver 

 and bowels, while those that are not affected with diarrhea die much sooner than the 

 former, and present a highly congested condition of the lungs. Remedies that have 

 proved efficacious iu my practice are such as sulphur and coal-oil or sulphur and lin- 



