The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-09-27
Hog Cholera.


Editor Farmer We have the bes
reasons for knowing that the seeds o
the terrible scourge named at the bead
OF this article arc already pretty wei
scattered over the State requiring only
the favorable influences of the western
fatteniDg process TO insure harvest OF
death, such rs will astonish our farmer:
and stockmcn. The evidence Of this
need not be given here. The readers OF
tho Farmer who have access TO Mr.. Al
tired Gray's invaluable reports, have
doubtless noticed in the chapter headed
"Discasc Among Farm Animals" the
great preponderancc of diseased swine
reported, over all other domestic ani-
mails combined. A large number OF
these cases arc pronounced nndoubted
hog-cholera, bnt when VIC remember the
mnItifarious form assumed by this malig-
nant epidomIc, il seems not unrcasona-
bic 10 suppose that many Of the cases
reported by Mr. Gray's correspondents,
under other names are neither more or
less then cholera.
Now 10 our people this is vital mat
ter, and one second in importance only
to the grasshopper plague from which
we have just now 50 proYidcnliaiiy cs-
capped. We have now N sight, corn
crop al unsurpassed excellence. and con.
siiering the price OF corn, The largo
number Of hogs in the State, and tho
prospective price OF hog products, it is
not too much to say, that go far rs the
farmers are concerned the profits Of this
enormous crop will come chiefly from
The gintleman as pay the rint." In
short, il is within the power OF this Tell
disease TO do nearly or quite all that the
grasshoppers have tailed 10 do, TO rob
us Of the fruits Of Successful summers
campaign, and long years labor in
growing the stock hogs.
The experience OF the past half dozen
years has cOnclusively shown this that
the disease variously called "ACg chol-
era" "intestinal fever" and "sty fever,
may be successfully wsrded of and pre-
vented and when it once has gained
loot hold, its destructive effects may be
greatly miiigated. The suggestion, |
wish to offer is this let the owners of
swine take such precautions now as
'hall prevent the future spread of the
disease. It should be borne in mind
that this disease ia spread chiefly by
cohthgion, and that those animals hay. |
ing the best general health, and greatest
sigor, viii beat Withstand the infection /
The means by which the future spread /
or thus disease may be checked, may be !
stated under tbroc principal heads.
l. IA 10 tho Introduction of hogs for /
feeding purposes from other States.
Probably this has done moro towards
the dissemination OF hog cholera, than
all other Causes combined. Indeed / I
have yet TO see the first cause in which .
hog cholera has originated in Kansas. (
Let il be understood that actual contact /
is NOT essential TO the spread OF this dis. :
ease, for VIGOROUSLY herds do take the
the contagion whom separated by long
distances from diseased animals. Ii is
the plain duty Of stockmen, farmers,
and others, who annually bring into tho
State, hogs in large numbers for feeding
purposes, to know that animals thus in.
troduced arc sound and healthy before I
shipment. Whorcver any doubt or sus.
piciOn of this exist, such animals should
be severely Let alone or placed 10 quar-.
amino until all doubt has been removed. !
| do not put this matter on grounds of
sentiment, or even Of public policy
slono. Every ono attempting to handle
hogs having the slightest faint of this
disease is certain to be loser to a great.
er or less extent. Surely if the Texas
cattle trade must be hodged in by so
many restrictions, a disease Of swine
which cost the nation last ycar not less
than S20.000,000 deserves moro atten-
ton from our people and their legisla.
tors than it hos heretofore recieyad.
,. Those animals receiving the best
treatment, both now and during fatten.
ming time will most successfully resist
the disease.
Lot the hogs especially, during fatten.
ing time, have clean, comfortable quar-.
lers including protection from storms,
and above all, avoid an exclusive corn
diet Feed as much as possible of nj.
trogenous foods, such as milk, shorts,
bran, ground oats, peas, and the like.
lt will be found greatly TO the advan-
tage Of the hogs if they ore saitod regu.
larry and often, and they ought at all
times have free access 10 pile of ashes
and charcoal.
,. When the disease has once appear.
cd In the herd, attention to tho above
particulars becomes all the more impeI.
alive. Separate from the herd every
animal showing the slightest symptoms
Of the disease and give all the best and
most digestible foods within your reach,
carefully avoiding raw corn in any form.
succeeded last fall IN saving fully
-eventy-ave per cent, of a large number
Of diseased pigs by feeding them liner
ally of milk.
There are many other details which
viii occur to practical men. / only de.
sire in this article TO urge upon our
farmers and stockmen the importance
If thinking and acting at once in q mat.
fer of such vast importance to them.
EDWARD VI. SHELTON.
Kansas State Agricultural College.
ConstantinOple.