106 DISEASES OF SWINE 



sprinkled. The entire mass was then set on fire and the surface 

 of the ground thus thoroughly burned over. The result was a 

 seemingly thorough disinfection of the premises. It did not occur 

 to the man, however, that he was neglecting one of the most potent 

 sources of danger in the hog wallow which was left untouched. 



Late in December 10 brood sows were purchased and put in 

 the pens, where they were carefully watched for a period of several 

 weeks. As they appeared to thrive all right, 10 more were added 

 early in February. These sows gave birth to several strong litters 

 of pigs in the early spring and all thrived in first class shape until 

 toward the last of April. 



About this time the old pond thawed out, and when the weather 

 got a httle warm, along in May, the hogs began to wallow in the 

 puddle. About the first of June several of the pigs were noticed to 

 be sick, and within another two weeks several of the sows were 

 showing typical evidences of cholera. The disease was soon in full 

 swing again, and cleaned out over 80 per cent, of the herd. There 

 can be little question that the infection was harbored through the 

 winter in the mud at the bottom of the wallow. 



Feeding pens should also be so arranged that it will not be 

 necessary for the animal to dig his ration of corn or other grain 

 out of the mud and dirt. Feeding floors of concrete or other 

 material should be provided, so as to allow of feeding in such a 

 manner that the hog may eat the grain given him without also 

 eating an equal amount of mud and other filth in order to get it. 



The hog is popularly believed to be a filthy or unclean animal. 

 This is by no means true, except in so far as his surroundings make 

 it impossible for him to be otherwise. No animal could keep 

 clean in the insanitary, filthy lots that are so commonly provided 

 for the use of the hogs. Carelessness in this respect has very often 

 proved to be the cause of an outbreak of cholera which has cost 

 the owner many times the amount a little improvement of his 

 premises would have cost. 



(8) Water-supply. — This is also a highly important factor in 

 the prevention of an outbreak of cholera. Hogs which are forced 

 to drink dirty, impure water cannot long remain well, and especiallj^ 

 so when an epidemic of hog-cholera breaks out in the neighbor- 

 hood. Hogs as well as men require a large amount of water, and 



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