DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 85 



gapes. This disease is caused by nits and mites, wliicli is the result of uncleanly and 

 improperly ventilated quarters. A great many remedies have been tried. A very 

 simple one is to rub the fowl with kerosene oil, an<l put one or two droi)s down its 

 throat. This will generally destroy the vermin. The better plan is to keep clean 

 houses, as prevention will be found worth a pound of cure. This is applicable to all 

 classes of farm-animals. 



Mr. W. J. Eubank, Biiiiiingliaiu, .Uvrrci'sou County, Alabauia, says: 



There have been no diseases prevalent hero among horses since the epizootic influ- 

 enza, which is still fresh in the minds of the people of the whole country. They occa- 

 sionally die with colic, inflammation of the lungs, inflammation of the bowels, &c. ; 

 but as there are no veterinary surgeons here, little is known of the causes of these dis- 

 eases. Cattle occasionally die with murrain. Goats are almost free from disease. 

 Occasionally numbers of a flock will die with a malady little known here. They are 

 generally attacked with a fit. When apparently healthy they will sometimes begin 

 turning around, which they will continue until tired out, and theu fall down. They 

 may get up soon and stagger about a day or two and die. Sometimes they will lie 

 around three or four days, apparently unable to get on their feet. Now and theu one 

 will recover without treatment. 



Hogs are atilicted with cholera and quinsy. In the dry weather, during summer and 

 fall, when they are obliged to lie in dust, pigs and young hogs are frequently attacked 

 with a disease that has only been known here some three or four years. Little pimples 

 make their appearance on the body similar to small-pox sores. The skin under the 

 body and inner part of the legs reddens, the nostrils swell, and the patient dies within 

 from three to ten days. I could learn nothing from & post-mortem examination. The 

 lungs and intestines appeared natiu-al. The disease is confined solely to pigs and young 

 hogs. 



Poultry sometimes have cholera and roup. The former I know nothing of, but the 

 latter frequently occurs in cool, damp weather in spring. The head swells, the nostrils 

 and eyes inflame, and discharge a viscid mucus. The nostrils should be syringed with 

 a solution of carbolic acid or nitrate of silver, and sulphur given internally in feed. 

 Where stock are well cared for and supplied with a variety of food and plenty of salt, 

 they rarely ever sufter from any disease. 



Mr. John Kendall, Amo, Hendricks County, Indiana, says: 



The only disease prevailing here among any class of farm-animals is that affecting 

 swine. A diagnosis of the disease, as a rule, seems to be about as follows: First^the 

 existence of a dry cough for weeks before any dangerous symptoms are manifested. 

 Second, refusal to eat, and a disposition of the animal to lie down with its feet under 

 its body. Third, excessive jjurging in many cases, the excrements frequently being 

 black. Fourth, constipation. In cases where the urine is very yellow, or where bleed- 

 ing at the nose occurs, death soon follows. Many will linger a long time after they 

 have lost all disposition to eat ; others will die within a very few days. The mor- 

 tality is greatest among pigs. Where older hogs are attacked, from 10 to 25 per cent, 

 recover. 



Every hog that dies in this section of country is said to have died of cholera. On 

 examination dead ones were found to contain worms in the intestines. No satisfactory 

 remedy has been found, notwithstanding the many "patents" and "sure cures." 



The disease prevails more extensively during July, August, and September, and 

 diminishes as frost and cold weather approach. A lot of my pigs were affected with 

 a cough, as before stated, but about the first of Seiitember I had a valuable horse die. 

 I cut the carcass open, salted, and allowed the pigs to devour it. Soon after they 

 commenced feeding on it the coirgh disappeared, and the pigs have since been apparr 

 ently healthy. Whether this was due to the fresh meat and change of diet, I cannot 

 say. 



Mr. Ira Eowell, Danvers, McLean County, Illinois, says : 



The "hog question" has been discussed for the past ten years in the farmers' club 

 at this place, without any definite conclusion having been reached as to the cause or 

 remedy for the diseases incident to this class of animals. No two persons have ever 

 agreed upon the subject, which has been discussed until it is threadbare. It is now 

 universally believed, however, that alkali in some form is the best preventive of so- 

 called hog-cholera. 



Many of those who have taken the best of care of their hogs, and escaped the dis- 

 ease for many years, were at last visited by it, and lost as heavily as those who paid 

 less attention to their stock. At present some of my neighbors are sufi'ering heavy 

 losses among their hogs, while mine are comparatively free from disease, and have been 

 for a number of years. But my turn may come soon. I have a shelter for my hogs, 

 open on two sides, and keep salt and ashes always before them. 



