96 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



posing causes that can, I believe, be almost or entirely prevented. I will leave this 

 point for more time and evidence, as I can only hint at the subject generally at present. 



Fortunately this disease, though very fatal and destructive, often readily yields to 

 proper treatment when administered in time. (By far the best plan is the preventive 

 trejitment, which is comparatively cheap.) The following prescription will be found 

 valuable : One quart pure alcoholic tiucture of camphor, one- fourth pound each of pre- 

 }>ared chalk and Jli/dranfis canadcnuis, one pint of tiucture of catechu, and one-half pint 

 of laudanum. To administer this prescription lay the hog on its back, place a stick 

 transversely between the jaw- teeth, and pour down one ounce of the mixture once every 

 two or three hours. If the first and second doses do no good, it is almost needless to 

 persevere. The mixture should be well shaken before using. There may be other 

 indications that could be met by proper medicines, but generally if the above fails we 

 may as well let the hogs go. 



If we carefully examine a hog that has died of cholera we will find the liver and 

 kidneys diseased. The coatings of the stomach and bowels will also be found more or 

 less inflamed from great irritation. We may also find patches of ulceration, with 

 worms imbedded about the kidneys and mesenteric glands. During the prevalence of 

 epidemics some hogs may escape the disease, while others may have it in a mild form. 



Some years ago I saw a preventive advertised in a Tennessee i)aper, which I adopted 

 in part, as there were some incompatibles in it, and I have found it a complete pre- 

 ventive not only of cholera, but of all other diseases affecting swine. It acts gently 

 and mildly on the liver and keeps it healthj' ; in a word, it is tonic, diuretic, altera- 

 tive, and anthelmiutic in its action. It is composed of the following ingredients: To 

 one gallon of tar add four ounces of calomel, one-half pound of copperas, and one-half 

 pound of golden seal. Stir the ingredients well, and with a wooden paddle si>read it 

 lightly upon an ear of corn, and give one ear to each hog or shoat once every three 

 weeks. When diseases are prevailing extensively give one prepared ear every week. 

 When hogs are hungry they will eat every grain of the corn and will finally seem to 

 relish it. 



In answer to the question as to the average fatality from diseases among swine in 

 Arkansas, I believe over half of the number die before they are ready for slaughter- 

 ing. There are a great many things recommended as preventives and remedies which 

 I have no confidence in whatever. 



Mr. J. J. Litton, Alton, Oregon Coanty, Missouri, says : 



With the exception of hogs, all classes of farm-animals in this particular locality 

 have been extremely healthy for some years past. For six months past a disease gen- 

 erally known as cholera has been working sad havoc among hogs. But few large ani- 

 mals have died from the disease, but a great number of pigs and shoats have been lost. 

 The first indications of the disease are seen in the animal becoming stupid, in which 

 condition it continues until relieved by death, which occurs within from one to four 

 days. Sometimes the throat appears to be affected, and in many instances the feet 

 swell and burst open. 



Mr. G. W. CuLLisoN, Allerton, Wayne County, Iowa, says : 



The worst disease among hogs that I have noticed within the last twelve months 

 has the following symptoms : 1. An indisposition to eat, accompanied with drowsiness. 

 2. Vomiting occasionally. 3. The skin becomes cracked and sore, with increased vom- 

 iting and an indication to thump. 4. Thumping increases in severity; skin rolls in. 

 folds. 5. Diarrhea sets in, and this and thumping close the scene. 



The disease seems to run in families, but is not otherwise contagious. The mortal- 

 ity reaches from 30 to 50 per cent, in a family. No remedy has been discovered by me, 

 but with cleanliness and variety of food the percentage of mortality may be mucli 

 diminished. 



No name has been given the disease, but many call it cholera. It assumes its worst 

 forms during the hot months, especially if hogs are kept in dry pens with no grass and: 

 but little shade. 



Mr. C. B. Combs, Lamar, Barton County, Missouri, says : 



Hogs in this locality have been more seriously affected by disease than any other 

 class of farm-stock. The disease is supposed to be cholera, and the losses havo been 

 quite numerous. All kinds of remedies have been tried, but nothing has been discov- 

 ered that proves of much benefit. There have been some losses among cattle by what 

 is called by some Texas fever and by others dry murraiu. The only remedy that has 

 proved of any value is a purgation of some kind. The animals should be taken from 

 the range they have been accustomed to and put up in close pens and fed green fodder, 

 which has a tendency to keep them well scoured out. 



