86 DISEASES OF SWINE 



most fatal animal diseases have been introduced into the country 

 in this way by the importation of animals from Europe. 



However the disease got into the country, it at least got a firm 

 foothold before its nature had been recognized and proper measures 

 taken to stamp it out. Ohio was the scene of a quite severe out- 

 break of this disease in 1838, and large numbers of herds were wiped 

 out by the disease at that time. In the following year it was spread 

 from Ohio to the neighboring states, and also to the states south of 

 the Ohio River. Unfortunately, we had no well-organized Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture or Bureau of Animal Industry at that time, 

 and, accordingly, the disease gained a foothold which was destined 

 to remain permanent. 



In connection with this matter of history, it might be well to 

 point out the efficient methods of deahng with such diseases that 

 we now possess through the activity of our national government and 

 the Bureau of Animal Industry. Foot-and-mouth disease, a dread 

 disease of cattle which is very widespread in parts of Europe, has 

 repeatedly threatened to get a foothold in this country, especially 

 in the eastern part of the United States, but each time the disease 

 has made its appearance prompt work upon the part of the officials 

 of the Bureau of Animal Industry has suppressed the outbreak 

 in its incipiency, and the dairy herds of our country have been 

 saved from its ravages. What a wonderful saving in millions it 

 would have meant for the hog producers of this country if we had 

 had some such efficient agency in the early 40's to have taken ag- 

 gressive action against the hog-cholera invasion of that time and 

 have eradicated it from the Ohio Valley. 



Unfortunately, however, no such action was taken, and the 

 seeds of infection soon became widely sown. Epidemics broke out 

 in various parts of the country. Herds were devastated and 

 thousands of dead animals left in its wake as it spread like a forest 

 fire from the peaceful pastures of the Ohio Valley all over the hog- 

 producing belt. No thorough systematic effort has ever been 

 made looking to the eradication of the disease, and, as a result, it 

 is now constantly present in every state where hogs are raised, and 

 is the dread of the hog raiser in every part of our country. With 

 the further development of the serum treatment measures are to 

 be hop(Hl for, looking not only to the treatment of sick and exposed 



