The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-02-06
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Tho importance Of the hog as . food
animal has ever been con-
ceded By tho most enlightened nations
of the world. Indeed, there has never
existed domestic animal Of moro I'M
portancc, or one moro submissive TO
the will and interest Of man than the
hog, nor one which is ever more ready
to yield to the influences, favorable or
unfavorable, connected with its breed
Ing or keeping. Though he cnnnot
labor like the horse or the OK, his iis;-
portance consists in qualities irrespec-
tive of the labor and duties which may
be performed by many other domestics.
His flesh as human food has for ages
graccd alike the repast Of the wealthy
and the refined az well as the tables Of
the most humble, and for tho mere
sake Of his flesh, vast herds have been
reared almost Throughout the entire
world, affording to commerce an inter-
est secondary to no other animal, and
To view him in this age Of improvement
and high culture, he lends claim as
well rs an indispensable interest TO
every rural home. His breeding and
rearing have become objects Of special
concern, and now involve the capital
and interest of every agriculturist, and
the supply Of every market with the
greatest staple of animal food. But
notwithstanding the many claims he
has ever had upon us for our care and
attention, there is no animal on the
face of the globe that has had as little
justice and as much injustice done him
as the hog. For ages he was denied
even historical representation along
with other animals of much less impor-
lance. Taken from his native Jungle,
he was subjugated, reared in filth, and
slaughtered in disease, and then de.
nounced by the heather lords as O
beast unclean." In state of nature
he was free from disease and enjoyed
every privilege which nature allotted
to his existence, but being subiugated,
he has been out Off from all those nat
ural resources which have ever been 30
essential to health and even existence,
and not being provided with proper
substitutes for them in domestication
he has become prey tc diseases which
adverse treatment and domestic life
only can give. But, Notwithstanding
the changed conditions of the hog by
domestication the nature and require
ments of the animal remain the same,
unchanged and unsubdued. If these
requirements are met the domestic hog
may be as healthy and free from disease
as other domestic animals. Obedience
to the laws of nature is always the
surest safeguard against disease and
death, and when in tho breeding and
rearing of pigs we yield to their natur.
al requirements or make the proper
substitutes for them, we can build the
animal structure free from disease and
offer to consumers one of the most
hcalthful kinds of animal food. 1t is
for the interest of farmers to give At
tentioH to this subject in order to pro.
duce such pork as will continue to
command the confidence OF, purchasers
and be used - an article Of food as In
days past. The raising Of healthy ami
mails requires attention to Cleanliness,
pure air, pure water, suitable food, and
sufficient exercise in the open air. Let
these conditions be fulfilled and there
is no moro danger of disease in hogs
than in other animals.-CRecord and
Farmer.