104 DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



siderably every day. Under this treatment I lost but few, and escaped better than 

 my neighboi"8. Still I do not advance this as a sure mean* of cure. I have more faith 

 in it, however, than in all the drugs of the apothecary combined. Others have tried 

 the same treatment to some advantage. The disease is very destructive here again 

 this winter. I sincerely hope, with the combined efforts of yourself and the stock- 

 raisers of the country, that some preventive may be found for this scourge. 



Mitchell Brothers, Ilannibal Centre, Oswego Coimty, New York, 

 say: 



There has been quite a heavy loss here incurred from a disease among hogs. We 

 have no name for the disease, as there seems to be no definite knowledge concerning 

 it. Some people call it " black teeth." The first symptom noticeable is lameness in 

 their hind feet. This continues until they lose the use of their hind legs entirely, after 

 which they soon die. They have but little or no appetite after they are taken sick. 

 There have been a great many hogs lost by the disease in this neighborhood during the 

 past eighteen montlis. Wo lost tive head ourselves last season. We sincerely hope 

 some remedy may soon be found. 



Mr. T. P. Hamilton, Hartford, Fulton Coimty, Arkansas, says : 



During the past season we have suiFered the greatest loss ever known among hogs 

 in this county. In March last the disease appeared among the pigs and shoats in rather 

 a mild form of thumps. The losses were not very great. In the month of August the 

 cholera made its appearence, and i>ioved very fatal. The greatest fatality was among 

 young hogs. The first symptom of the disease was extreme sluggishness. This was 

 generally soon followed by rapid breathing, sometimes by purging, and at others by 

 blindness. Sometimes they survive for days and at others die quite suddenly. It ia 

 not unusual for the flies to blow them before death. The loss has been fully 50 per 

 cent, of those attacked, and of this number at least 10 per cent, have been large hogs. 

 We have no remedy for the disease. 



Mr. Samuel Wiedmire, Grami)ian Hills, Clearfield County, Pennsyl- 

 vania, says : 



I have lately been informed of the prevalence of disease among fowls in some local- 

 ities of this county, but do not know the nature of it, nor any of the remedies or pre- 

 ventives made use of. When disease makes its appearance among swine, the principal 

 remedies are charcoal and sulphur. As far as I have been informed, most diseases 

 among this class of farm-stock yield to this kind of treatment. Some years ago I lost 

 a few hogs myself, but I believe the trouble was caused by keeping them too long on 

 a plank floor during the winter season and feeding them principally on hard corn. I 

 find they always do better where they have pens so constructed that they can have a 

 good-sized yard in which to exercise. 



Mr. C. Gingrich, Eeisterstown, Baltimore County, Maryland, says : 



A disease has been prevailing among cattle in the vicinity of Baltimore for the past 

 twelve or fourteen years, and in many cases has proved fatal. As most of the cattle 

 in this district are milch-cows, the disease prevails most extensively among them. It 

 is commonly called lung-fever, but as it is identical with pleuro-pneumonia, it should 

 perhaps more properly be called that. It has thus far baffled all medical skill. It 

 seems more malignant where a large number of cows are confined in filthy stables. I 

 know of several dairj^meu who were compelled to suspend their business on account 

 of heavy losses by the disease. Renovating the stalls, whitewashing, using carbolic 

 acid, carbonate of lime, and smoking the stables with tar, &c., have liad the effect to 

 check the disease for a time, but it is liable to break but again. The symptoms are a 

 cessation of the milk secretion, loss of appetite, and stupor, accompanied with quick 

 pulse and high fever, and secretions from the nose and mouth. Some animals die within 

 a few days, while others linger for some time. Fresh cows are more liable to attack 

 than dry ones. Nearly every case proves fatal. The disease is undoubtedly typhoidal 

 in its character. Some years ago a bill was introduced in the legislature providing 

 for an investigation of the disease, but it failed to pass. 



There is no class of animals among which such heavy losses occur as among swine. 

 There is certainly something wrong in the rearing and management of hogs, as the 

 losses sustained amount to millions of dollars annually. I am of the opinion that the 

 cruel system as now and for many years practiced has a great deal to do in inducing 

 disease among this class of animals. The hog is an animal that cannot endure such 

 hardships as horses and cattle. In the Western and Southern States swine diseases 



