The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-19
FArAL Ep1pEM1c AMONG THE Hoes.-Learn-

FATAL EPIDEMIC AMONG THE HoGs.-Learn-
ing that an epidemic of frightful description was
prevailing among the hogs belonging The dis
tlery OF Billings & Co, in Troopsvifiss three
miles north of this city, we visited the place. TINS
morning. The hogs brought from the
West FIVE weeks since, and were l, 700 in number
They were kept in pen over 300 feet long divld-
ed into apartments capable of accommodating 200
each. During the day and night they were allow
ed to run at large in field of sixty acres. Three
weeks ago4the fearful epidemic made its appear
ance On the first opy thirry hogs died, and from
that the number $50 to 200 hogs per day. They
are attacked suddenly and die in three minutes.
While we were there this morning large porker
enjoying hearty meal at his trough, and his
general health" appeared good; but while eating
he suddenly sprang from the ground, became con-
vulscd, and in a few minutes was dead. Four or
five died in the short time that were there.
There is Ia particular manner Of attack, and no
general rule by which the disease may be designat-
ed Some of the hogs die suddenly, others linger
some time All of the drove walked about stag
gering and weakly.
post n,ortene examination shows that the cpl
demic affects the hogs differently In some the
blood is black and thick; in others it is natural
and healthy. In all cases the heart liver, intes-
tines are perfectly healthy in appearance, thus
showing that strychnine is rot the cause; and MIR
Billings informs US that the poison never used
in his distiery. In all cases the lungs are entire
ly gone. All kinds of medicines have been used
but they refuse to act One thousand hogs have
thus died within the last two weeks
Four years ago Billings Co. lost 1900 hogs,
and last summer 100 more in the same manner
The loss of the company, therefore, IN the last
four years by the death of hogs, is estimated at
$4,000! Immediately after the loss of the hogs
four years ago fresh supply of 700 were put into
the pen fed on the same food, and they fat
tened we'll and were very healthy and sound
4 uGurn (Ata.) Aduertiscr.
THE AILANTHUs TREE A NUlsANCE.-Com-
plants are made in New York and Philadelphia,
swell as in our own city, of the tendency Of the
blossoms of this tree to produce malaria. great
deal of Sickness i'll the former cities, is caused by
the effluvia diffused by the flowers. correspon-
dent of the Philadelphia Enquirer expresses the
hole that the Council of that city will frame an
ordinance requiring all such poisonous trees to be
! cut down. According to the New York Times,
the late researches Of Prof. Hetet, of the School
| of Medicine of Toulon, France, on the medicinal
effects of the Ailanthus, common as a
shade tree, show that the bark contains volatile
OIL which is so deleterous in its effects that the
assistants who had the evaporation of the extract
under their care would be seized with vertigo and
vomiting whenever they came in contact with the
vapors That their welknown unpleasant exha
lations are of poisonous as we'll as disagreeable
nature, is further proved says the Times, by the
number of dead flies and other insects found under
this tree at seasons, and also by their sickenins
effect upon delicate persons particularly children
-Richmond Dispatch
This tree is commonly known the "Tree OF
Paradise and were it not poisonous, its disagree
able odor during bloom is sufficient to render 1t :
nuisance.