176 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct 



The Fungus foot is a terrible disease which attacks the 

 bones of the lower extremities and the victim dies of ex- 

 haustion. It has been classed as a mould by Dr. H. J. 

 Carter. In the Intellectual Observer (II), is a good ac- 

 count of it. I was particularly struck with the close re- 

 semblance between his illustration and an illustration of 

 mine in one of the objects from the Varne sand which I 

 called Saprolegnia varniensis. In the mycelia the an- 

 alogy is striking as also in the development of sporangia, 

 The large family of Mucor may be set down as potent 

 destroyers closely allied to each other. 



Hog Cholera. 



Two diseases, closely resembling each other, yet caused 

 by distinct germs, and frequently both affecting an ani- 

 mal at the same time, have been recognized. The ques- 

 tion of formulating practical measures for controlling 

 these diseases has been as difficult as it is important 

 While most prevalent in the great corn-producing States 

 the diseases have been carried to all parts of the country, 

 and therefore, any regulations to be effective must-be en- 

 forced over a wide extent of territory, and would be corres- 

 pondingly expensive. The losses have, however, been 

 tremendous, being placed by some as high as $100,000,000 

 a year; an estimate which does not appear exaggerated in 

 the light of the careful inquiries in the State of Iowa, 

 from which it was concluded that this one State lost from 

 $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 worth of swine in a single year. 



There are but two methods of control which, from our 

 present knowledge of the contagious diseases of swine 

 appear to promise adequate results. One is the old stamp- 

 ing out method, the slaughter of diseased and exposed 

 animals, the quarantine of infected farms, the regulation 

 of transportation, and the disinfection of stock cars; 



