6G DISEASE AiMONG SWiNE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



Mr. Perry K. Colton, Moorefiehl, Switzerland County, Indiana, 

 says: 



The only disease prevailing liere among farm- animals is that among hogs, and known 

 as cholera. There has never been a oaso of it in my neighborhood, but much of it has 

 and does exist in adjacent communities. The lirst symptums are languor, watering of 

 the eyes, diarrhea, in some cases constipation, and a dry cough near the close of the 

 scene. The duration of tlie disease is from one to two days. The average fatality is 

 virtually all, for tJie few that do recover are afterward worthless. No remedies, so 

 called, are used with any success whatever. Dissection after death discloses, in many 

 cases, the bowels much iullamed. Often the intestines contain large numbers of white 

 worms, which in st)me cases are so knotted together as to completel}' obstruct the 

 bowels. The lungs are generally found much decayed and otherwise all'ected. Soap, 

 black ammonia, wood-aslies, sulphur, &c., are given as i>reveutives, but with what 

 success would be difficult to determine. 



We are of the opinion that the disease is a blood poison somewhat of the character 

 of malaria. With us, where malarious diseases ]»revail in the human family, tlie cholera 

 is mostly found, and where there is no ague or other malarial disorders there is but 

 little or no cholera among hogs. 



Mr. A. B. NicnoLSON, Lincoln, Logan Count}', Illinois, sajs: 



In this (Logan) county, horses, cattle, and sheep are and have been very healthy. 

 Hogs are al'Ilicted by the so-called cholera. I am unable to give all the symptoms of 

 the disease as they vary a great deal. Generally a loss of appetite, drooping ears, 

 cough, diarrhea, &c., is observed. The younger hogs are generally the first attacked. 

 There is not, to my knowledge, any known remedy. Very often a remedy is fonnd 

 and heralded over the country as an effectual cure, and it probably does cure some and 

 then fails. The secretary of our State board of agriculture in ilarch, ld7G, sent out 

 circulars containing forty questions relating to hog cholera, to upwards of one thou- 

 sand swine-breeders. About two hundred and seventy were returned with the ques- 

 tions answered, but hardly two of them were agreed as to the cause or cure. 



The treatment which is considered best is to change lots and sleeping places every 

 week or two, with frequent changes in food. A preparation made of one bushel of 

 wood-ashes, one quart of salt, one pint of sulphur, and one-half pint of black antimony 

 should be mixed with their feed and given once a week. If your department can as- 

 certain the cause and fird a remedy for this disease, it will save millions of dollars 

 annually to the farmers of the northwest. 



Mr. J. A. Jordan, Orion, Henr}- County, Illinois, says : 



There is no special disease aflecting farm-animals here except that aftecting swine. 

 What is known among us as cholera is at present and has for mouths past made fear- 

 ful ravages among all classes of hogs. I am imable to furnish j^our department with 

 the number of hogs that have died in my county (Rock Island) within the past four 

 months, but after diligent inquiry I am satisfied that one thousand would be a low 

 estimate of the loss we have sustained, and §il5,()00 would be a fair estimate of their 

 value. 



The cause of this disease is totally unknown, or merely conjectural. It is generally 

 supposed, hoxyever, that it is caused by being fed too long in one place, or by eating 

 their own tilth. Feeding on plank floors and keeping them well cleaned off and 

 fejirinkled with slacked lime has proved highly beueiicial. 



Any description I might attempt to give of the hog cholera would be of little serv- 

 ice to the dei)artment, as it is developed in a great many forms. I will, however, say 

 that the hog when fiist attacked appears stupid and refuses to eat, is often very much 

 relaxed, and occasionally passes what appears to be blood. They usually live from 

 two hours to two or three days after the first symptoms are observed. 



The breeding-stock growers here think that your department has never under- 

 taken to investigate a subject so important to the i^eople of the West, and indeed to 

 the revenues of the government, as the one under consideration. I trust your efforts 

 may be abundantly blessed in discovering the cause aiul a remedy for this terrible 

 Kcourge. 



Mr. George P. Weber, proprietor of Meader tarin, Pawnee, Sanga- 

 mon County, Illinois, says : 



The prevailing disease among farm animals and poultry in this section is known as 

 cholera, M'd affects both hogs and poultry. Cases of Spanish or Texas fever among 

 western cattle has in former years prevailed to an alarming extent, but for two years 

 past 1 have known but little of tliis disease. The chief trouble being hog and poultry 

 cholera, 1 will conliue my remarks to these. 



