CHAPTER XXV 

 DISEASES OF SWINE 



While swine are not ordinarily considered as being subject 

 to so great a variety of diseases as horses, cattle, or sheep, they 

 are very often attacked by ailments far more serious than afflict 

 any other class of our farm animals. Chief of these diseases are 

 cholera, swine plague, and tuberculosis. Throughout the corn- 

 belt of the United States, the loss caused by these diseases among 

 swine is not equaled by any other class of diseases to which 

 farm animals are subject. These very deadly diseases are all 

 contagious or infectious and therefore, with proper sanitary 

 methods, can be prevented, although when the animal once 

 becomes afflicted, there is no cure. It is the ravages caused 

 by these diseases that makes pork production such a hazardous 

 business. Sometimes the swine breeder or feeder will have a 

 drove of swine ready for the market when they will contract 

 one of these diseases and the entire herd be taken in a few 

 weeks. 



Quarantine lot. — On every farm where hogs are kept in con- 

 siderable numbers, a small quarantine lot should be provided. 

 This lot should be located at some distance from the other lots,it 

 should be tightly fenced and at least a part of it should be paved. 

 When a new animal arrives, it maybe dipped as suggested (page 

 503) and then placed in this quarantine pen for at least three 

 weeks. Cholera or any other diseases will be apparent before 

 this. If all is well, it may then be turned with the herd. 

 Such a pen could be used by any of the animals of the herd 

 that may become sick, as all ailing hogs should at once be 



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