The Wichita city eagle., 1876-09-21
CONCERNING HOG CHOLERA.
No Certain Cure but Plsnty of Preventive.


Prof. j. Law contributes the follow
ing timely advice on this subject to the
New York Tribune:
Word comes from the Western States
of ..hogs dying by the hundreds" of
cholera, and anxiously inquiring for
certain cure" No such cure is known
ali fail when subjected to severe
trial. In years when the malady is
milder and less yirulent than at pre-
sent. many seem to have recovered uu-
der laxative, partly vegetable diet,
the use of antiseptics (carbolic acid,
charcoal, ashes copperas, etc.), CASTOR
oil, to overcome the costivenes often
present in the early stages, and the
continued use OF febrifuges (saltpeter
IA dr.; bisulphite of soda, l-2 dr.
twice daily in the food. But in a year
like the present. such measures are
eminently unsatisfactory, and the
search after specifics, and consequent
preservation Of the sick animals Ger
tile manufactures of eontagion,) are
above all else calculated to spread the
disorder. The rational course is to at
tempt prevention.
Seperale all sick hogs TO a pen as far
possible from the rest, and as soon as
one is seen TO be dropping, transfer it
at once to the hospital pen. The use of
a clinical thermometer, introduced two
inches into the rectum. will great y
assist in Distinguishing the sick, as the
body temperature is often raised by
one or two degrees for sometime before
any other symptoms of illness are
shown. Both pens together with ..all
tie droopings. but especially those of
the sick, should be frequently and pro-
fnselv sprinkled with a strong solution
of crude carbonic acid, copperas or
chloride OF lime, and the feeding and
drinking troughs should be so con-
structed that ii is impossible for them
to get their feet into them. Ii the sick
animals are kept alive after the disease
is unequivocally developed III them,
they should have seperate attendant
who is never allowed to go near the
pen. food or litter used for the healthy,
and all other persons should be exclud-
ed from The hospital pen. Shade and
water are esential, and is often desira-
II tho lNaatinn of tho hoo
pen used for the healthy, as thorough
disinfection becomes very difficult, and
this process in unprofessional hands
is liable TO be imperfect. Much care is
wanted to secure perfect purity OF
food and water, especially TO avoid
water that is stagnant,or charged with
the drainage OF pens or yards, or with
other decomposing organic matter.
Avoid crowding OF the hogs in filthy
dunghiIls, rotten straw stacks or dirty
confined cellars under the barns.
Success with such malady will de-
pend on maintaining the system in
such state Of health as will make
them an unfit field for the reception
and growth of the poison in any way
possible Good, sound, slightly laxative
food, cleanliness of the hog-pen, and,
above all, in the feeding troughs and
drinking places. the free use Of disin-
fectants, and the prompt separation
and thorough seclusion of all sick pigs, |
are the main points to be ATTENDED to.
In excluding the posion, thousand
minor conditions demand attention.
Though not carried far i'll open rum
ming water, it is manifest that it may |
be floated along streams for considera-
BILE distances upon dry floating ma
terials, and though fence will some- |
times form sufficient barrier to its |
progress, yet it may be carried by the |
wind for miles when lodged on dry, /
light materials (straw hay, paper, etc. |
The great disideratum in regard 10
this as to other fatal contagious dis
eases is TO convince people of the pre-
eminent dangers of contagion, aud to
shut up all the loopholes through
that this may take place. To treat each