Marcli 1896.] 



SWINE-FEVER. 



417 



SWINE-FEYER.* 



The Board of Agriculture desire to call the attention of 

 farmers and pig owners generally to the fact that successful 

 results from the measures now being carried on in their interest 

 cannot be anticipated unless all connected with the trade are 

 prepared to give active and vigorous assistance towards check- 

 ing the spread of swine -fever. 



Owners are urged to refrain from selling any part of their 

 stock unless they are satisfied that no disease exists on the 

 premises from which the animals are to be moved. 



Purchasers of swine should invariably keep newly-acquired 

 animals separate for at least a fortnight before permitting them 

 to be brought into association with the home herd. 



There seems reason to believe that the disease is not in- 

 frequently introduced by means of persons who have been in 

 contact w^ith diseased animals. Pig owners, therefore, are 

 advised to prevent strangers from at any time approaching their 

 pjgs, and should the admission to the premises of spayers or 

 castrators be necessary, those persons should be required, before 

 approaching the animals, to thoroughly wash their hands with 

 soap and water, and to wash and disinfect their boots with a 

 solution of carbolic acid and water or some other suitable 

 disinfectant. Such persons might also with advantage be 

 required to wear, while operating, a waterproof apron, which 

 should be washed and disinfected before the wearer is permitted 

 to approach the animals to be operated on. 



The cleanliness of the sties, and the feeding of swine on 

 suitable food, are measures which, although not directly 

 calculated to protect the animals against swine-fever, are never- 

 theless very desirable with a view of keeping them in a healthy 

 condition, and of giving them power to resist infection. 



The Board would also call attention to the importance of the 

 prompt notification of the appearance of any symptoms of the 

 disease, should it unfortunately be suspected to exist. Every 

 person having in his possession or under his charge a pig affected 

 with or suspected of swine-fever, is required by law to give 

 notice of the fact with all practicable speed to a police constable, 

 and there can be no doubt that the success of the measures 

 taken to prevent the spread of the disease will greatly depend 

 upon the promptitude with which its existence is notified. 



* Eeprinted from a leaflet (A. 1 — 1896) issued by the Board of Agriculture in 

 January last, copies of which can be obtained on application to the Secretary, Board 

 of Agriculture, 4, Whitehall Place, S.W. 



