The Osceola times., 1877-03-03
FARM AND GARDEN.
The Cholera 4 M ,sg n " in~.

A correspondent OF the Country Cen
tleman at Bronson, Mich, writes as fol-
lows:
Although | never have had the dis
ease among my hogs, have lived in seme
OF the worst infected districts Of the west,
and have given the mat ter much thought,
and carefully noted the conditions sur
rounding lots effected; the means used
for cures or preventives, and, Of course.
the many opinions regarding cause and
cure. 1t is not at all strange that many
opinions as to the cause of the disease
should be held by those at all familiar
with it. for 1t presents so many various
forms at different times and places, that
no well grounded facts bearing upon its
origin have as yet been established. II
is true that many theories have been ad-
vanced, yet not one but may have some
well-founded objection brought against it.
B. +. J. claims that an exclusive corn
diet is the immediate cause of the disease
Frem this must dissent. although there
are many facts relating to the elements
contained in corn as articles of diet which,
when used as physiological facts, would
seem to establish the fact beyond doubt
that Il is corn that causes the disease.
II this is 80, why is it that the disease
was not known years ago? Corn has
been used as food for hogs ever since this
broad expanse of prairie and forest be-
gan 10 be home for civilized man; yet
hog cholera is Of comparatively late ap.
pearance. II corn causes it, why should
we find II out at so late dateY Again,
why Is it that hogs that are kept on tim
Der farms, although kept up and ted on
corn exclusively, escape the disease al
most always, while those on prairie farms
are swept away in a week? In every
case where my attention has been called
to hogs infected with cholera, and the
disease spreads to any extent, | have no
ticed that certain localities escape almost
entirely, and that the disease in its prog
ress stops at belt Of timber.
These facts are not isolated ones but
such as have noticed from this state to
Missouri. That the disease presents diff
ferent phases at different times is evi
dent. | know one man who saved his
hogs by the use OF wood ashes at one
time, after they were badly affected. A
while after, another lot in the same field
was taken, and in spite of every curative
agent, every one died. So far as my ex.
periencc goes, have noticed the greatest
mortality among hogs when Geld nights
succeed warm days. When l first began
my observations upon the cholera, l.
like B. +. j., thought that corn was the
cause OF it. Subsequently, my own ex
perience in feeding corn to hogs cured
me of this-at least so far as to attribute
il to corn solely.
l have never known of an instance o.
cholera among hogs that had clean guar
tiers, and were fed regularly, kept warn
and dry, although fed exclusively OF
corn, and il they had pure drink. ! dc
not attribute the disease to any one
casse alone, but combination of them
To put hog in cold, wet, muddy
place, expose it to hot days and chilly
nights, allow it to pick its ieod from thu
dirt, and drink from some filthy pond O.
hole, is enough to make hog sick, anC
TO invite every known disease hog fesl
is heir to. The hog is naturally ia
more cleanly animal than many give j
credit for, and do candidly believe tina
il more attention was paid to the natura
disposition OF the animal, and more car,
taken of it, that we should hear mucl
less Of hog cholera.