The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-17
HOG CHOLERA.
Is 1T IN OUR CITY
A Mysterious Letter.

For some years past the telegraph has
brought us from time to time the accounts Of
fearful ravages amongst swine, Of conta-
gious disease, known as the hog cholera.
These epidemics have swept with fearful effect
through portions of Ohio, Indiana and Ken
lucky, and so depleted the stock that many
farmers were in great measure disinclined to
invest again in animals We were led to
speak of this subject by an occurrence yester-
day which, perhaps, may be of great signif-
canoe at present to our citizens, and again
may amount to nothing. On the floor of one
of our leading book stores was found the fol-
lowing letter:
October IA, 1874.
George made mistake in the weight of
hogs in writing to you yesterday. One hum
bred and thirty -four head weighs %, 900 in
stead of $4,000. was sold two by head one
died Have not sold any to-day, and do not
think will sell them before Friday, il then.
The slaughterers are killing cholera hogs today
that they can buy for less. They haze to take
less for them, or let them die.
The above was written on note paper in a
fair round hand, but had no signature at
tached From the manner in which the let
ter abruptly ended, it is probable the writer
commenced another, not being satisfied with
the above. As soon as this letter was placed
in our hands, q representative of the BULLETIN
was Immediately dispatched to the Slaughter
House below the city, there, if possible, to
ascertain whether there were any cholera hogs
on sale in the pens Of the company.
After arriving at the extensive abattoir we
at once commenced an inquiry to discover il
the fragment had been written from this city
and whether the lot of 135 hogs had really ar
rived. 1t was not long before our labors were
repaid and we found that ON Monday such 8
lot had reached the stables from St. Louis via
the New Orleans and Chicago Railroad. W.
visited the pens where this lot were kept anG
found them in about the same condition as
they usually are after long travel Most o
them were asleep and to a non-professiona
eye showed no signs of being sick. They wert
in prime order. As the letter found spoke O
1.-THE slaughterers killing the cholera hogs to
day." we inquired of Mr.. Guy Dreaux, tn
deputy inspector under the law, who gave u
the following particulars
AS soon as hogs are purchased by the butch
ers they are driven slowly by the inspector
office, who examines as to outward symptom
of disease. As soon as he becomes satisfied
the animals are III a healthy condition, the,
are driven into the slaughtering room ant
killed. Here an assistant inspector examine
them after they are dressed, and if found unti
tor food, they are condemned.
It appears several have been so condemned
this week and taken from the hooks and give
to the soap men.
The several consignees and stock dealer
state that they have not remarked any unusut
number of deaths among the swine lately, bu
if the statement in the letter is true that the
are sold before the disease has become marked
or in other words, when in its inception, the1
; would be but few pork eaters in the city tt
morrow.
A learned veterinarian in an article on no
cholera, says: 1.-the term cholera is Ell
ployed to designate a disease which has bee
very fatal among swine in different parts {
. the United States, and for the reason that il
symptoms. as we'll ss the indications accom-
, panying its termination, are very nearly allie
t to what is manifested in the disease Of thu
l name which visits man"
If this disease is present here, it should b
known at once, for there are many classes {
our population who prefer polk to any othe
f kind OF meat.
9 As one Of the clerks stated several ANNA
had lately been condemned after death, it
. we'll enough to h&ve the mysterious matte
!. contained in this waif Of letter thonghtless
cast adrift by the unknown writer looked int