The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-09-27
fpr the farmer.
HOG rnshERA-A sUGGRsrIoN.
kansas Farmer.l

Kansas Farmer.l
Ths experience Of the past half dozen years
has conclnsively shown this: that the disease va
Yionsiy called "bog cholera" intestinal fever
mud "sly fever" may be successfully warded off
and prevented; and when it has once gained q
foot-hold, its destructive effects may be greatly
mitigated. The suggestion l wish to offer Is
this: Let the owners of swine take such pre-
cautions nOU as shall prevent the further spread
of the disease. 1t should be borne in mind that
this disease is spread chiefly by contagion, ana
that those animals having the best general
health, and greatest vigor, will best Withstand
the infection.
The means By which the further spread of this
disease may be checked, may lie stated under
three principal heads.
l. As to the introduction of hogs for feeding
purposes from other States. Probably TINS mas
done more towards the dissemination OF hog
cholera, than all other causes eombined. lndeed
/ have vet to see the first case in which hog
cholera has originated in Kansas. Let 1t be I'M
derstOOd that actual cnntact is not essential to
the spread of this disease, for notorionsly herds
do take the cOntagion when separated by long
distances from diseased animals 1t is the plain
dnty of stockmen, farmers aud others, who an
DualIy bring into the State, hogs in large num-
bers for feeding purposes TO know that animals
TINS introduced snund and healthy before
shipment. Wherever any Doubt or su spicion of
this exists, such animals should be severely let
alone or placed in quarantine until all doubt
has been removed. do not put this matter on
grounds of sentiment, or even of public policy
alone. Every one attempting TO handle hogs
having the slightest faint of this disease is GER
tain to be a loser to greater or less extent.
Surely if the Texas cattle trade must be hedged
in by so many restrictions, disease of swine
which cost the Nation last year not less than
GO, 100000 deserves more attention FROM our
people and their legislators than it has hereto
fore received.
2 Those animals receiving the best treatment,
both now and during fattening time, will most
successfully resist the disease.
Let the hogs especially, during fattening time,
have clean, comfortable quarters, including pro-
lection from storms, and above ALL avoid an ex-
elusive corn diet Feed rs much possible of
heterogeneous food, such as milk, shorts, bran,
ground oats. peas, and the like. 1t will be found
greatly TO the advantage of the hogs if they are
sailed regularly and often, and they ought at all
times have free access to q pile Of ashes and
charcoal.
3. When the disease has once appeared in the
herd, attention to the above particulars becomes
all tho more imperative. Separate from the
herd every animal showing the slightest symp-
toms of the disease, and give all the best and
most digestible foods within your reach, care
fully avoiding raw corn in any form. succeed
ed last Fall in saving fully seventy-fve per cent
of large number of diseased pigs by feeding
them literally of milk
There are many other details which will occur
to practical men. only desire In this article to
urge upon our farmers and stOekmen the impor-
lance Of thinking and acting at once in o mat
ter of such vast Importance.
EDWARD NJ. SHELTON.