93 



the hogs themselves may be thoroughly disinfected and isolated on reaching 

 the farm, these other objects, capable of carrying the infection, must not 

 go without proper attention. 



What is true of the public stock yards is equally true of the infected 

 farm. While the public stock yards may act as a seeder of hog cholera to 

 many widely separated farms, an infected farm is even a greater danger 

 to the neighborhood. The shorter the distance hog cholera germs must be 

 carried by objects other than sick hogs, the greater is the danger of in- 

 fecting healthy herds. Men trespassing upon infected farms, automobiles, 

 farm wagons, implements, dogs, and birds may readily carry infection to 

 nearby herds, unless precautions are taken. 



Streams passing through infected pastures or feed lots may carry the 

 virus to distant farms. Dead hogs allowed to lie unburied and carcasses 

 not properly disposed of become bait for dogs, buzzards, and crows, which 

 may carry portions of the diseased carcass to healthy herds. 



The practice of exchanging farm labor in threshing, silo filling, and 

 other farm enterprises offers another avenue for spreading cholera. While 

 this exchange of help cannot be readily avoided, its danger must not go un- 

 noticed. 



Purchase of new stock, lending or borrowing breeding stock may bring 

 infection to the unsuspecting owner. 



Although the hogs of an infected farm may have recovered and are 

 themselves no longer a source of danger, the houses, pens, and runways in 

 which they have been kept may remain a source of infection unless prop- 

 erly cleaned and disinfected. 



When consideration is given the great number of avenues by which 

 cholera may be spread, the problem confronting the owner who attempts to 

 keep a cholera-free herd is readily appreciated. It is evident that by em- 

 ploying sanitary measures the disease can be controlled. To insure suc- 

 cess, sanitary methods must not be employed in a half-hearted manner, as 

 only the most energetic and painstaking efforts will produce satisfactory 

 results. 



All newly purchased animals, especially those coming through public 

 stock yards, should at least have their feet thoroughly disinfected. If a 

 dipping tank or other suitable container is not at hand, allowing the animals 

 to remain for an hour or more in a small enclosure, in which straw has 

 been spread to a depth of eight or ten inches and soaked with a disinfectant, 

 is beneficial. 



The wagon in which the hogs have been hauled should not be allowed 

 to stand in a place where it can come in contact with the remainder of the 

 herd. The feeder should be as careful in going from newly purchased hogs 

 to those already on the farm as he would if cholera was known to exist in 

 the newly acquired animals. 



Feed lots and pastures are best located when situated some distance 

 from public highway and away from streams and open ditches. The less 

 accessible the feed lot and pasture are for trespassing, by men, vehicles, 

 birds, dogs or other animals, the better is the location. 



Hog houses and pens should be constructed so that they may be readily 

 cleaned and disinfected. Sunshine, nature's disinfectant, should be admitted 

 wherever possible. Yarding of vehicles, farm wagons, implements, etc., in 

 hog lots is undesirable. The feed lot so situated that it is necessary to pass 

 through it in going to and from a public highway is an invitation for 

 disaster. 



Newly purchased stock, stock borrowed for breeding purposes and stock 

 exhibited at fairs should not be immediately placed with the home herd, 

 but preferably such animals should be kept in a pen separate from the 

 others for at least two weeks. This will allow sufficient time for hog cholera 

 to develop if these have become infected. 



Dead animals, even if they did not die from cholera, and the offal at 

 time of butchering should be burned completely or deeply buried to avoid 

 attracting dogs, which may travel from an infected lot to your own. 



