84 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



disposition or inability to eat, and death in a short time. We have used soda and sul- 

 phur as remedies, and cleanliness of houses as preventives, and by such means have 

 managed to raise chickens and eggs sufficient for our own use, which we find cheaper 

 than the raising of pork on the same amount of food. 



In this section of country a great many hogs have been lost by a disease called 

 cholera. It makes but little difterence as regards symptoms; all hogs that die are 

 afflicted with either cholera or mange. Those that are aflected with mange are cov- 

 ered with a dry scuff, waste away, and soon die. The first 8ynii)tom of cholera is a loss 

 of appetite, then follows a jerking or heaving of the sides, which is soon followed by 

 the death of the animal. We are a slipshod set of farmers, and make no investiga- 

 tions for determining the causes of the various diseases which afl'ect our animals. We 

 depend too much on nature, with its sun and rain, and try to go it easy. 



Mr. Ira 11. Foster, Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama, says : 



Horses are afflicted with numerous diseases, the most alarming and fatal of which 

 are "bots" and colic. The former manifests itself suddenly and produces great 

 agony, which frequently results in the death of the animal in a few hours, occasionally 

 in a few minutes, and upon a pont-mortan examination the coats of the stomach are 

 found partially destroyed by the worms or grub. The symptoms are a disi)osition to 

 frequently lie down, stretching the head and neck on the ground, drawing up the top 

 lip and showing the teeth plainly, casting the head back behind the fore legs witli 

 nose to the body, excessive perspiration, but no swelling of the body. The symptoms 

 of colic are pretty much the same, and the two diseases are often confounded ; but in 

 the latter the body is almost invariably more or less distended, and not unfrequently 

 to an alarming extent. We have no reliable remedy for the bots in cases where the 

 animal is violently attacked. The main hope against its deadly ravages is by means 

 of preventives. The colic is more manageable, generally yielding to large doses of 

 carminatives and anti-spasmodics and purgatives combined, such as cloves, pepper, 

 «fcc., laudanum, paregoric, ether, &c., and salts, castor oil, turpentine, tfcc. A slug of 

 moistened tobacco inserted in the rectum is worthy of trial. By regular feeding, 

 watering, and exercise the disease w^ould be less f reijuent. Of horses violently attacked 

 by bots, 50 per cent, die in less than twenty-four hours. Not more than 5 per cent, 

 die of colic. 



Distemi)er, bloody murrain, hollow-hom, and hollow-tail are the diseases which 

 mostly afiiict cattle. The first-named manifests itself in and about the head by the 

 issuance of feculent and corroding pus from the nostrils and eyes, with loss of appe- 

 tite, attended with great lassitude and exhaustion. I have found mercurial purgatives, 

 aided by salts, the most satisfactory remedy. This disease is not so malignant and 

 fatal as in former years. The murrain is common and fatal. It is manifested by a 

 discharge of bloody urine, loss of appetite, constipation of the bowels, fever and thirst, 

 lassitude, and a general drawing up of the body. No favorable remedy has been pre- 

 sented. Cooling cathartics combined with diuretics and diaphoretics have been tried 

 with partial good results. At least 50 per cent, die when violently attacked, and gen- 

 erally within one or two days. Hollow-horn is common, though not necessarily fatal. 

 It shows itself in cold horns and languid looks, loss of appetite, indisposition to move 

 about, seeming great shrinkage in size of body. If neglected, the animal will die from 

 exhaustion in six or eight days. The disease generally gives way after boring with a 

 large gimlet into the center of the horn (which is usually found hollow) and injecting 

 vinegar, table salt, and black pepper daily for several days ; also bal liing the horn 

 near the head with spirits of turpentine. The hollow-tail is easily detected by ma- 

 nipulating the tail from root to tip. A portion of the bone will be found destroyed by 

 absorption, say from three to ten inches in length. Make an incision to the center of 

 the tail where the bone is missing, and insert a liberal quantity of black pepper and 

 salt. Then close up this orifice and bandage well, and the animal will soon recover. 



Cholera is the main disease afflicting hogs. It is common and emphatically fatal, 

 often killing by the hundreds within a few days. On its first appearance it generally 

 selects the best and fattest hogs for its victims. Although many remedies have been 

 tried, and some with apparent success, none seem to be at all reliable. A sure remedy 

 would save millions of dollars annually. A remedy for this disease we need above all 

 others. If found, the farmers could and would advance in prosperity by raising hogs 

 for market as well as for home consumption. If your department can give to the 

 country that remedy, you will have done a great work — one so great, indeed, that its 

 merits and bounds cannot be measured. 



Sheep, when in large flocks and closely penned, die by the hundreds of the various 

 diseases which afflict this class of animals. Small flocks in open and broad pastures 

 thrive, and would be remunerative if it were not for the lean and hungry dogs. The 

 rearing of sheep is sadly neglected at the South. 



The cholera among chickens is most insidious, and its causes less understood, and it 

 perhaps proves more fatal than all other diseases combined. A great many die with 



