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SWINE-FEVER. 



The Board of Agriculture desire to call the attention of 

 farmers and pig-owners to the fact that the operations now 

 being carried on against swine-fever cannot be expected to 

 prove successful unless all connected with the trade in pigs 

 are prepared to give active and vigorous assistance in 

 checking the spread of the disease. 



It should be clearly understood that swine-fever is never 

 spontaneous in its origin. Its sole cause is the introduction 

 into the animal system of a healthy pig of the poison from 

 the body of a diseased pig, or from its excreta. 



There is reason to believe that the disease is not infre- 

 quently conveyed to places at which swine are kept by means 

 of persons who have been in contact with diseased animals 

 elsewhere. Pig-owners should therefore prevent strangers 

 from approaching their pigs, and if the admission of spayers 

 or castrators be necessary, those persons should be required 

 before approaching the animals, to wash their hands 

 thoroughly 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 very desirable with a view of keeping 

 them in a healthy condition, and of giving them power to 

 resist infection. 



Carts, crates, nets, ropes, etc., used in connection with the 

 conveyance of swine should be scrupulously cleansed and 



