The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-16
bog Cholera.

At the last meeting of the State
Board of Health, DIR. II. B. Baker, Sec
rotary of the Board, was directed to
investigate the hog cholera now pre-
vailing in the southwestern part of this
State and to find, if possible, any rela-
ton between that disease and any sick
ness in the human family. In pursu-
ance of that order DIR. Baker visited
Vicksburg in Kalamazoo County, Men,
don and Wasepi and their vIcinities in
St. Joseph County, and Climax and
Leroy in Calhoun County, pursuing his
investigations more particularly in the
latter township. The statements given
below are the conclusions arrived at by
DIR. Baker from collation. and compar-
ison offacts obtained, sometimes with
the greatest difficulty, in the localities
above named, as many of the people do
not recognize the disease as hog
cholera and in many instances were un-
willing to furnish any information, or
aid in an investigation.
The disease prevails in all the above
named localities and the general i'm
preston seems to be that it is spreading
east and north. This chances to be in
the direction of the prevailing winds,
and some are of the opinion that the
winds favor its spread. 1t should be
remembered, however, that inasmuch
as the disease first struck the south
western part of the State, if it spreads
at all in Michigan it must necessarily be
in that direction. Still the theory OF
spread by the wind is worthy of con-
sideration, especially as the cause is
known and appears to be capable of be-
ing carried as dust by the wind. An
other thing, previously known, was that
the disease is communicable. 1t has also
been ascertained that it could be com.
municated to mice, sheep and chickens,
and from each of these back again to
the swine, although the disease affected
sheep but slightly. DIR. Baker has found
evidence in his recent investigations
that it may also be communicated to
rats, dogs, lambs. colts and cats.
The term "cholera" is misnomer
except as it conveys an idea of com
municable disease. Contagious typhoid
pneumonia would more nearly repre-
sent the nature OF the disease, but both
those terms would probably be mislead-
ing unless the mode of communication
of the disease is understood, which is by
incubation or by. taking the specific
virus into the body with the food. II
is possible that the disease may be COM
municated by inhaling the poison, but
of this there is not sufficient evidence.
The time which elapses after the en-
trance Of the poison before the disease
is noticed is about seven days, but il
varies considerably, possibly depending
upon the amount of poison introduced
and the susceptibility of the system to
it. Young animals are most suscepti-
bic and the mortality is greatest among
them. The evidence OF this was very
marked in DIR. Bakers investigations.
This is exactly analogous to the com
municability of diseases which affect
human beings, such as scarlet fever,
measles, diphtheria, etc. Some of those
who had observed the disease in Leroy
Township thought that it was certainly
diphtheria of the hog. DR.. Baker found
in other places mention of swelling of the
throat and difficulty in swallowing.
Post norton examinations did not re.
veal signs of diDhtheria, however, but
did reveal evidence of hog cholera.
The symptoms described in variou:
places varied greatly, but are all easily
explained when the nature of the dis.
ease is understood. The specific viru;
circulates through the body wherever
the blood goes. and very rapidly repro
duces itself. It tends to clog up the
smaller blood-vessels throughout the
body, and especially in any weak or in,
iursd place; therefore the symptoms
necessarily differ widely, but the lung:
almost uniformly suffer, becoming
clogged up in nodules or by entire
lobes, in manv instances causing deatf
in this manner. Another part of the
BODY next most constantly affected il
the large intestine aud small intestin,
near it. Where the glands on the in
side of the intestine are enlarged and
sometimes liberated and infamed, the
adjacent Emphatic glands are enlarged
and the stomach is sometimes inlamed
In one case DR.. Baker noticed enlarged
spleen. and the liver had a peculiar
purplish appearance. Others have founC
similar appearances.
From this description it is easily
realized that there is not much hope il
medicine being able TO eradicate til,
disease. but as a matter of fact The
farmers are imposed upon all over tn,
country by quacks, and are trying al
kinds of remedies. But what is found
TO answer in one case will not work il
the next, Indicating that there is no re
lance to be placed upon remedies. Or
the contrary, it is productive OF mUcf
mischief, as the attempt TO keep th'
animal alive only tends to increase tn,
cause of the disease. Intelligent meI
say if they had killed ali the first ami
mails attacked and placed them fou
feet under ground it would have beer
money in their pockets by preventing
the spread of the disease; but the ques
ton of its restriction is very complex
because of It's existence among almos
all classes of animals, and perhaps il
human beings.
DIR. Baker saws the disease is not gen
orally recognized by the people wher
he went. They say. when the cats hav'
a disease which appears to him the same
that it is consumption. When the dog
had it it was dog diStemper;" wheI
the colts had it it was "epizootic;" an
when the lambs had it, as they did il
some places, they attributed it to feed
inc on clover. or called it - grub in tn,
head and cited for proof the fact tina
sitter death the - gruhs came cut OF TIL
nose:n but this might occur in summe
after death from any disease. The dis
ease is probably spread very largely b
mice. rats and cats, which die and Ii
around unobserved, aud to which chick
ems and hogs have access.
The question which DR.. Baker wa