THE RAZORBACK 131 
swine. If I can keep the specific micro-organism 
that causes hog-cholera off my place, I need not 
fear the disease. The same is true of swine 
plague. These diseases are of bacterial origin, 
and are communicated by the transference of 
bacteria from the infected to the non-infected. 
I propose to keep my healthy herd as far re- 
moved as possible from all sources of infection. 
I have carried these precautions so far that I 
am often scoffed at. I require my swineherd, 
when returning from a fair or a stock show, to 
take a full bath and to disinfect his clothing 
before stepping into the pig-house. This may 
seem an unnecessary refinement in precautionary 
measures, but I do not think so. It has served 
me well: no case of cholera or plague has shown 
itself at Four Oaks. 
What would I do if disease should appear? 
I do not know. I think, however, that I should 
fight it as hard as possible at close quarters, 
killing the seriously ill, and burning all bodies. 
After the scourge had passed I would dispose of 
all stock as best I could, and then burn the 
entire plant (fences and all), plough deep, cover 
the land white as snow with lime, leave it until 
spring, plough again, and sow to oats. During 
the following summer I would rebuild my plant 
and start afresh. A whole year would be lost, 
and some good buildings, but I think it would 
pay in the end. There would be no safety for 
the herd while a single colony of cholera or 
