DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 67 



So iimcli has boeu written and saiil on tlie subject of liog-tliolera that its considera- 

 tion has become almost disgust injf. Neverthelet-s, iu a work of such f^veat importance, 

 I am always ready to enlist. Swine, like all other cbisses of animals, are subject to 

 numerous diseases; but since the lirat cases of what 1 regard strictly as hog-cholera 

 were known in our county, all the swine ailments are called cholera. If an animal 

 becomes affected in any way, the trouble being invisible, it is at once pronounced 

 cholera. Hence, the great trouble so often encountered — incorrect treatment and ulti- 

 mate failure. The disease was first introduced into this county about twenty years 

 ago by large droves of half-starved Missouri hogs, bought there at a very low price, 

 owing to scarcity of corn, and brought here to fatten when crops were iiue. These 

 animals were put upon a full feed of dry corn, and in a few days many of them were 

 taken with violent fits of retching. Iu a few hours the bowels would begin to operate 

 freelj-. Evident signs of griping in the bowels accompanied tliese discharges, which 

 constantly grew more frequent and severe until death relieved the sufferer. Some- 

 times within a single hour from the first symptom the animal would die, while others 

 would last twenty-four hours, (.r even longer. Very few of tliese animals, thus aiilicted, 

 recovered. Xo remedies that I have heard of w^ere used, as it was thought to be caused 

 by the high feed closely following the extreme starvation to which they had been sub- 

 jected. In a short time, however, the native hogs began dying in a similar manner, 

 which caused no little alarm. Since that time our county has not been free from this 

 plague. Then begun the discnssions as to contagion, epidemic, &c., with which all 

 are acquainted who have paid any attention to the disease. While these jjoints have 

 never been decided, I regard them as matters of great importance. 



The symptoms of hog-cholera are about as follows : Disposition to remain quiet ; 

 when driven up to feed will smell of the food but refuse to eat ; stand drawn up with 

 feet under the body, back arched, head and ears drooping, eyes look weary and fre- 

 quently indamed; violent retching and vomiting; gripings and evident pains and 

 cramjis in bowels; severe scouring, and discharges not always of same character. 

 Death usually ensues from within one to thirty-sis hours, if the latter period is 

 passed recovery is not unfrequeut. Animals once affected are not so liable to attack 

 in the future. 



It would require hundreds of pages of closely-written matter to give in detail the 

 varied treatment and remedies used for this malady. Almost all the minerals and 

 vegetables in their different forms are prepared for medicines; stone and charcoal, 

 lime and ashes, the ditierent kinds of oils and salts, sulphur and soda and the vari- 

 ous acids, mixed and compounded, mercury and arsenic; indeed the entire list is 

 given for aught I know. We have known of seeming wonderful cures and strange 

 failures under the same treatment and remedies. My opinion, founded upon practical 

 tests and obsei"vations, is that the disease is epidemic and contagious. Animals should 

 have the largest possible range; they should never be housed except in bad weather ; 

 their feeding-place should be changed as often as once in two or three weeks; their 

 beds should be carefully attended to, and all the trash, old beds, and collections 

 about pens and sheds should be burned as often as once a week, and the ashes left for 

 the pigs to eat. Pigs should have access to pastures as much of the year as possible. 

 They should be fed all the slops from the kitchen and the dairy, or as much of it as 

 they will drink in the dry weather of late summer and in midwinter. Feed and 

 water regularly, and never give medicine unless the bowels become constipated. Then 

 air-slaked lime, wood ashes, and a little salt is the best remedy. The condition of 

 the bowels may be readily known by watching the droppings. I am fully convinced 

 that if the bowels are kept iu a healthy condition there will be no such thing as hog- 

 cholei'a, so-called, or in fact many other diseases. This should be done by cleanliness 

 and careful feeding, watering, &c., and not by dosing with poisonous medicines. 



Of course mj jjosf-mortcin examinations have not been strictly scientific, as I am not 

 a veterinary surgeon. The results invariably satisfied me, however, that the whole 

 stomach and bowels were deranged, nsnally inflamed, as if greatly excited. I have 

 found nothing that would justify a specified location, or a reasonable cause for the 

 disease. I have examined many, as in former years I lost them by hundreds. After 

 all my reading, observation, and actual experience, I pronounced the whole thing a 

 mystery that can only be solved by accident, time, or science. Therefore I rejoice to 

 see your department moving iu the matter. 



Chickens and turkeys of all ages are the principal snUerers from the malady known 

 as chicken-cholera; yet other domestic fowls are not proof against the disease. The 

 symptoms, treatment, and results are so similar to the disease known as clioUra among 

 hogs that a full statement would amount to nothing more than a n-petition of the 

 above. 



Mr. E. EiCKESON, Ewing-, Franklin County, Illinois, says : 



While there have been some disases among cattle, horses, sheep, and poultry in the 

 past that were the subject of some thought and investigation, their general condition 



