Sharp County record., 1881-01-13
Hog Cholera.

| G6GdTl VI inc DOdlu, was uiNN'ON w
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 ylcinities 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
Dr. Baker from a collation. and compar-
ison of facts 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 I'M
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. DR.. 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 a 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 1t
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 it
varies considerably, possibly depending
upon the amount of poison introduced
and the susceptibility of the system to
it. Young animals are most suscepti-
BILE and the mortality is greatest among
them. The evidence of this was very
marked in DR.. 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 swellingo the
throat and difficulty in swallowing,
Post mortem examinations did not re-
veal signs of diphtheria, however, but
did reveal evidence of hog cholera.
The symptoms described in various
places varied greatly, but are all easily
explained when the nature of the dis
ease is understood. The specific virus
circuates through the body wherever
the blood goes, and very rapidly repro
duces ITSELF 1t tends to clog up the
smaller blood-vessels throughout the
body, and especially in any weak or in
iured place; therefore the symptoms
necessarily differ widely, but the lungs
almost uniformly suffer, becoming
clogged up in nodules or by entire
lobes, in many instances causing death
in this manner. Another part of the
body next most constantly affected is
the large intestine and small intestine
near it. Where the glands on the in
side Of the intestine are enlarged and
sometimes liberated and indamed, the
adjacent lymphatic glands are enlarged,
! anu ulb SUOlltCll ID sOllCVlHlCS luHdllltu.
In one case Dr.. Baker noticed enlarged
spleen, and the liver had a peculiar
purplish appearance. Others have found
similar appearances.
From this description it is easily
realized that there is not much hope in
medicine being able to eradicate the
disease, but as matter of fact the
farmers are imposed upon all over the
country by quacks, and are trying all
kinds of remedies. But what is found
to answer in one case will not work in
the next, Indicating that there is no re-
lance to be placed upon remedies. On
the contrary, it is productive of much
mischief, as the attempt to keep the
animal alive only tends to increase the
cause of the disease. Intelligent men
say if they had killed all the first ami
mails attacked and placed them four
feet under ground it would have been
money in their pockets by preventing
the spread of the disease: but the Que5-
ton of its restriction is very complex,
because of its existence among almost
all classes of animals, and perhaps in
human beings.
DR.. Baker says the disease is not gen.
orally recognized by the people where
he went. They say, when the cats have
q disease which appears to him the same
that it is consumption. When the dogs
had it it was " dog distemper;;n when