70 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTIIEK DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



had a couple of hof>s atllict*;<l with what was calh d " ])lind wtagge.r.s." They appeared 

 to have spasms, could uot see, kept constautly moving about, and would sometimes 

 fall as if dead. In about one minute they w^ould get uj) and move off again, appar- 

 ently relieved. Others of my hogs showed symptoms of the same disease." I liad been 

 feeding for some time on hard corn, and I think this was the cause, for when I 

 changed their feed to bran mash they all got well. The two sick ones I saturated 

 from ears to tail with coal-oil and turpentine. The losses in this county were about 

 60 per cent, during the above season from staggers and cholera. The cause of the 

 last-named disease is unknown, but it is believed that proper feed would prevent it. 

 Fowls are subject to several diseases, the most fatal of which is known as cholera. 

 The causes are unknown, as on some farms almost every fowl dies, while on adjacent 

 farms none die at all. It is my belief that if properly cared for all farm-animals (ex- 

 cept in cases of epidemic diseases) would be as healthy as could reasonably bo desired 



Mr. J. McGowAX, Orluud, Stciilieii County, Indiana, says : 



On my own farm I have had no trouble with my stock, but my neighbors are suffer- 

 ing from the disease commonly known as " hog-cholera." From cases that have come 

 under my own observation I am led to believe that the disease is more like typhoid 

 fever as it ati'ects the human faiuily. On my farm we have fed eighty head of hogs 

 with good success, and I cannot do better than give you our nuunier of handling them. 

 We give ample range, with pure, fresh water constantly before them. Salt twice a 

 week, and keep wood-ashes and lime continually within their reach. Our hogs are of 

 the Poland-China breed, aud are very thrifty and seem perfectly healthy. Farmers in 

 this vicinity are sntTering terribly from this scourge, and tru>t that your investiga- 

 tions may be crowned with success. 



Mr. John W. Eoss, Fitt's Hill, Fraukliu County, Illinois, says: 



Horses in this locality are occasionally affected with epizootic diseases. The malady 

 comes on without any apparent warning. The symptoms are generally about as fol- 

 lows : Glands of the throat swollen and distended, and limbs and feet swollen ; con- 

 tagions eruptive fever, with inability to eat or drink ; morbid seci'etionof saliva, and 

 decided constipation. In fatal cases the disease runs its course in from teu to fifteen 

 days. Hygienic measures are about the only remedies resorted to. Warm poultices 

 may with beuefit be applied to the throat, aud the bowels regulated with salts or sul- 

 Ijhur. 



The disease most prevalent among cattle is murrain. It is characterized by small 

 vesicles in the fnouth, on lips, gums, and tongue, with drivelings of saliva, often caus- 

 ing inability to eat or drink. These symptoms are accompanied with fever, swelling 

 of the udder, aud lameness. In fatal cases the animal generally becomes unmanagea- 

 ble, disregards the commands of the groom, breaks away and runs over the neighbor- 

 hood perfectly frantic and furious. The disease runs its course within from three to 

 ten days. "Where animals are affected with this disease the bowels should be regulated 

 by mild laxatives, and they should have comfortable lodgings, with soft, digestible 

 food. As an api^lication for the mouth aud larynx, a mild astringent solution of half 

 an ounce of alum, oxide of zinc, or sugar of lead to a quart of tepid water will be 

 found benelicial. 



The most formidable, and by far the most destructive disease of all, is hog-cholera. 

 It often devastates the whole country of large numbers of swine. It occurs at any 

 season of the year, Tint is generally the most prevalent in spring. The 8ym))toms are 

 a. stiffness of joints, no desire for food or drink, dry, hot, harsh skin, general disturb- 

 ance of internal viscera, nausea, and vomiting. The animal lingers from five to ten 

 days, and generally dies. Decomposition takes place almost immediately after death. 

 Various remedies have l.)een tried, but with no decided beuefit. 



A disease known as chicken-cholera is also very destructive to fowls. When it breaks 

 out in a flock it usually destroys the most of them. No remedy has been found to suc- 

 cessfully combat the disease. 



Mr. E. Stevens, ^o^Yardsvillc, Jo Da\iess County, Illinois, says: 



There is no special disease prevalent in this locality among farm-animals. Among 

 horses the most troublesome complaint is that known as distemper or " strangles." It 

 is quite prevalent throughout the low country of the Mississippi Valley. It is invari- 

 ably known here as "distemper," and is of variable duration, often lingering for months, 

 but seldom proving fatal to the full-grown horse. It attacks horses of all ages aud 

 conditions, and is highly contagious in its character. The disease is marked by three 

 distinct stages. The first is a dry, hacking cough, attended by running at the nose. 

 The discharge at first is thin and watery, and always of a whitish color. This dis- 

 charge soon becomes thick and purulent; and the second stage rapidly follows by swell- 



