DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 83 



and intelligent attention, over and irregular feeding, exposure to inclement weather, 

 filthy quarters, want of salt, in the absence of which latter the animals sometimes re- 

 sort to dirt and the accuniulations in their pens. 



The chicken cholera is sometimes prevalent here among that class of fowls which is 

 the staple jtoultry of this section. I have no experience of any value in regard to this 

 disease, and no suggestion beyond the want of proper care and attention on the part 

 of a rustic population who have no idea as to the importance of attention, proper food, 

 protection from the weather, provision of proper gravel, or cleanliness of roosts and 

 quarters. Being a country of prolific vegetation, and the fowls being allowed to run 

 at largo over the farms, the young ones are subjected to the damp and cold of the 

 dews and rains, whicli superinduce diseases peculiar to young chicks. 



I am of the decided opinion that in a climate like this, naturally free from epidemic 

 diseases to man and beast, that care and attention, intelligent regard to the comfort 

 and food of animals, will constitute good, eftective, and sure preventives of diseases 

 of all kinds among animals and fowls. 



Mr. W. H. SiLOW, Bay Minette, Baldwin County, Alabama, says : 



Chickens have been affected more or less with a disease known in this locality as 

 cholera. The fowls may be fat and perfectly liealthy one day, and the next morning 

 he found dead under their roosts. Some linger longer, droop around and gape a day 

 or two, and then die. The gills become sallow and apparently bloodless. The dis- 

 charges are green and very offensive. Not more than one in twenty-five recover. Some 

 few have a second attack of the disease. Many remedies have been used, but I cannot 

 say that any of them have proved sufficiently beneficial to be recommended. The dis- 

 ease is confined mostly to the Brahma breed. We have come to the conclusion that it 

 is useless to doctor a chicken where the disease has progressed to any considerable ex- 

 tent. Black pepper appears to be about as good a remedy as anything else. 



During the winter of 1876-77 about half the sheep of this neighborhood broke out 

 with what farmers called the rot. They lost flesh until they were greatly emaciated, 

 and then the wool would almost all come off them. When attacked they would wan- 

 der off' singly or two or three together to some retired place, where they would linger 

 for about a week and then die. I think about one-half of those attacked died. The 

 loss caused a great falling oif in the yield of wool in this section. They now seem to 

 be doing well and are comparatively healthy. 



Mr. Andrew Jay, jr., Jayville, Couecnh County, Alabama, says: 



The importance of the object sought to be accomplished in your proposed investiga- 

 tion of the diseases of farm-animals would be hard to overestimate. It is a much- 

 needed movement, for I know of no reliable remedy for any of the diseases which afflict 

 farm-animals. The diseases existing among horses are colic, hots, or grubs, scours, stag- 

 gers, distemper, and glanders. That among hogs is called cholera. Whatever disease 

 may afflict a hog it is called cholera, yet it is very evident that the symptoms and ef- 

 fects greatly vary. Half of all the hogs in the county have died of some disease dur- 

 ing the present year. Cattle are less subject to disease than any other class of animals. 

 Occasionally, however, they have what some call murrain. Sheep likewise are subject 

 to disease, and more so when huddled closely together. But I am too ignorant on the 

 subject of diseases, as seems to be the case with all of our people, to have yet discov- 

 ered or learned enough about the causes or cures to be of any real value. Cures are 

 generally accidental, if at all. Sometimes the animals will recover in spite of the rem- 

 edies given. 



I regret that I am unable to contribute anything toward advancing so valuable and 

 important a work. I would most cheerfully do so if I could, for I need its advantages 

 and will be very grateful for any information growing out of this investigation. 



Mr. C. H. jERNiaAN, Enon, Bullock County, Alabama, says : 



Horses, cattle, and sheep here are subject to the usual diseases incident to these ani- 

 mals, for which various remedies are used. Hogs are subject to cholera, for which no 

 remedy has been discovered. I would like to investigate this disease for the purpose 

 of discovering its cause had I the means at hand. Chickens are also subject to cholera, 

 so-called, and are also frequently afflicted with a disease called "sore head." No rem- 

 edy is known for the first. As a local application, kerosene oil and lard, in equal parts, 

 has been found a sjiecific for the latter. 



Mr. Thomas Dunnington, Tine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas, 

 says: 



Notwithstanding the frequent prevalence of chicken cholera we find the raising of 

 fowls profitable. The symptoms of the disease with us are a drooping appearance, in- 



