112 



DISEASES OF SWINE 



an outbreak of hog-cholera. The explanation of this fact is often 

 simple. The carcasses of the dead fowls are most frequently 

 thrown out into the field or along the hedge fence to be eaten by 

 other animals, and they also serve to attract to the farm the ever- 

 watchful buzzard. With the buzzard comes the germs of cholera, 

 and in a few weeks the hogs begin to die. It only takes a very small 

 amount of reasoning to figure out the reason why. 



Careless Farmers. — Some few farmers will be found in every 

 locahty who might well be classed as criminally careless in these 



Fig. 42. — Turkey buzzard, 

 hos-cholera. 



One of the most active agents in the spread of 

 (Photo by Dr. Geo. R. White.) 



matters, in that they will leave the carcasses of dead hogs, which 

 they know have died of cholera, to lie and decompose in their 

 fields, or in the roadways, and thus invite infection of their neigh- 

 bor's herd. Such a farmer as this is a menace to his neighbors 

 and should be made the subject of criminal prosecution. A man 

 who will wilfully allow a stream to become polluted with the germs 

 of hog-cholera, and thus endanger the herds of all the feeders 

 further down the stream, is just as much a criminal as if he poured 

 some poisonous chemical into the water, and the penalty should 

 be equally severe. 



