188 DISEASES OF SWINE 



pneumonia is usually a far less rapidly spreading disease than 

 cholera, and outbreaks of pneumonia are not likely to affect the 

 entire herd as does cholera, and neither is the disease likely to 

 spread to other herds. A few days of close observation, together 

 with the history of the case, will usually be sufficient to arrive at a 

 correct conclusion. 



In any instance where the question of use of serum is under 

 consideration, and there is doubt as to whether the condition is 

 really cholera or not, give all reasonable question of doubt in favor 

 of the animal, and if the history and general appearances are sug- 

 gestive of cholera, have the serum administered at once, even though 

 the postmortem findings may not be absolutely conclusive. 



Swine Erysipelas. — In European countries there is another 

 very common disease found among swine which is known as 

 swine erysipelas. This disease in some respects rather closely 

 resembles hog-cholera, and must be differentiated from it in those 

 countries where it exists. This distinction is made by the fact that 

 the disease makes the animal sick in a shorter length of time after 

 exposure; the symptoms are more severe at the time of onset; 

 there is more congestion of the mucous membranes; cough is more 

 severe and breathing more interfered with; while the symptoms 

 due to disturbance of the bowels are less severe. In postmortem 

 examination of an animal which has died from swine erysipelas 

 there is absence of the ulcerated condition of the bowels, changes 

 in the spleen are less marked, and we do not find the characteristic 

 spotted condition of the kidneys which is such a common finding in 

 hog-cholera. 



TREATMENT OF CHOLERA 



Management of this disease should be considered under two 

 very broad headings: viz., preventive treatment and curative treat- 

 ment. Of these two methods of treatment, by far the more impor- 

 tant is that which has as its object the prevention of the disease. 

 There is no other disease in which the old adage, "an ounce of pre- 

 vention is worth a pound of cure," is more true than in cholera. In 

 the management of cholera this statement is not even strong enough. 

 Better may it be said that "an ounce of prevention is worth a ton 

 of cure." 



