TREATMENT OF CHOLERA 229 



The veterinarian was again called, and, on postmortem examina- 

 tion, found typical evidences of acute cholera. 



Now this case presents a number of very interesting and instruc- 

 tive lessons. In the first place, it shows the dangers attending the 

 feeding of silage which is not properly put up, or which is placed 

 in improperly constructed silos. The silo, properly handled, is 

 one of the greatest improvements of recent years in the winter 

 feeding of live stock, but it also holds great possibilities for harm 

 in the hands of the inexperienced or careless, as this outbreak of 

 forage poisoning demonstrates. 



Now, the feeding of the dead animal bodies which had died 

 from forage poisoning did not produce death in the hogs which had 

 eaten them, but they did produce an attack of scours and inflam- 

 mation of the bowels which prepared the way for the introduction 

 of the cholera infection, which was undoubtedly carried on the 

 boots of the veterinary surgeon coming directly from a cholera- 

 infected farm. In this manner but a small amount of disease- 

 producing material was brought in, and under ordinary conditions 

 probably would not have been sufficient to have produced disease. 

 The animals, however, already had their resisting powers reduced 

 by the stomach and bowel trouble, and were in the proper condition 

 to get sick from even a small dose of the virus. 



Too much care cannot be exercised in keeping away from your 

 animals any form of food which will produce inflammation of the 

 stomach or bowels, and thus open the door for the entrance of 

 cholera. 



Another point not to be overlooked in this outbreak is the 

 danger of coming directly from an infected cholera farm to another 

 farm where hogs are kept without thoroughly washing off the 

 shoes or boots to remove all disease-bearing manure and mud, 

 which is bound to collect when you pass through a hog lot contain- 

 ing cholera animals. This veterinarian unconsciously was the 

 means of introducing cholera on this farm. The hog-cholera virus 

 is no respecter of persons, and, if you are a veterinarian, you must 

 remember that the cholera virus can be carried on your shoes just 

 as easily as on the shoes of a stable-boy, and you owe it to your 

 patrons to take every precaution to see that your shoes or boots 

 are thoroughly washed and disinfected before leaving any farm 



