The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-31
SPECIAL REPORT.
The State Veterinary Surgeon on the
Prevalence Of Hog Cholera.

Prevalence Of Hog Cholera.
OFFICE OF THE
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE,
TOPEKA, KAN, October Is, 1884.
Recognizing the importance of dissent
mating promptly among the people infor-
nation calculated to prevent the introduce
ton and arrest the spread of contagious dis
eases among domestic animals, the follow
ing from DIR. A. A. Holcombe State Vet
er1nary Surgeon, is sent out as special re-
FORT from this Board, and its publication in
tie press Of the State earnestly requested.
WILLIAM SIMS, Secretary.
STATE vETEIINARIAN's OFFICE,
TOPEKA, KAN, October 10, 1894.
To the Secretary State Board of Agriculture,
Topeka, Kansas:
MY DEAR SIR: 1t having been reported to
me from many localities in the state, particu-
lai ty from the counties of Marion, Chase,
Lyon, Leayenworth. jefferson, Sumner and
Johnson, that large numbers OF hogs and pigs
are dying from the disease known as hog
cholera or the swine plague; and that this dis
cas- is rapidly spreading from place to place,
j have the honor, therefore. to submit the fol-
lowing suggestions regarding the measures
viii b should be adopted to prevent its fur
the. ravages. with request that they be pub
lished for circulation among the people OF
the State.
NATURE OF THE DISEASE.
Hog cholera is a specific fever, which is
h;e hly contagious and Is caused by q micro
sccpical parasite classed with the bacteria.
Ih.se parasites are very tenacious of life.
are rapidly reproduced under favorable cir
cuuistances. and may be said to infest the Gu
tire animal economy of the diseased pig.
MEANS BY WHICH IT Is SPREAD.
There is no evidence, of which l have any
knowledge, that Kansas is the home of the
parasite of hog cholera, nor any reason for the
belief that any portions of the State have be-
which 1 have investigated, the disease could
be clearly traced to the introduction of hogs
from the East. think 1t may be accepted as
a. fact that to bring hogs into this State
through stock yards, or in cars used indis-
criminately i'm the transport OF hogs, Is certain
to bring the cholera. When once introduced,
its spread il rendered comparatively easy;
for the germ IL carried in the body of the in
fected animal; in all of its eXcrement, such as
the dung, urine, saliva, mucous discharges
and expired air: and by means OF the dead
hog yards carried by the rains across other
yards or into creeks or rivers on which other
hogs are kept; by rats or other vermin, by
cars, boats, the air, and by the clothing of
With go many avenues open for the trans
initial Of the disease, 1t may readily be under
stood why the malady always tends to spread
from the point Of introduction.
SYMPTOMS.
The first thing to attract attention in an out
break of this disease IL, as a rule, the vomiting
or diarrhoea of one or more OF the animals.
These animals, 1t will be observed, are Off
their feed; present detected appearance,
with dropping ears, low hanging head, dull
eyes which are over-sensitive to light, an
arched back, weak gait, rough, scaly-looking
skin, rapid breathing, and desire to hide be-
meath the bedding or in some dark corner. A
careful examination will show that the tenn
perature OF the sick has raised raj from about
cases il may rise to l0S or ll6 dogs. Usually,
short time before death, the temperature
fall below the normal. The breathing is rapid
and often accompanied by grunt or moan.
The belly is tender to pressure, and the softer
portions of the skin between the legs, under
the body and behind the ears, are covered
with small red spots which become larger and
purplish.bl as death approaches. The skin
usually has dry, wrinkled, parchmentlike
feel; but in the commencement of the disease
it is not unusual to find spots covered with
dark unctuous substance, giving the skin a
greasy feel. As the disease progresses, large
patches of the outer layer of the skin scaie
off. The snout is dry, hot and feyerish, the
tongue furreG, the pulse very rapid, and a
discharge of thickish mucus from the nos
tris often takes places. In some cases a fire.
quenr cough is heard. In many instances the
patient is constipated in the beginning of the
disease, but has diarrh9a before death.
The discharges from the bowels are
of blacklist color during constipa
ton. but a grayish green. OF a mix
ture of yellow and slate. when diarrhua
sets in. All discharges have most offensive
smell. and are often streaked with blood. At |
times the sick have strong inclination |
to eat all kinds of filth, such as manure, urine,
etc.
PERIOD OF INCUBATION.
The period which will elapse from the time of |
exposure until the development of the disease |
may be seen, varies with the seasons of the !
year In warm summer or autumn weather |
only from three TO six days elapse: while in |
cold winter weather the period is longer |
usually from six to fifteen days. |
MORTALITY.
The losses which follow the introduction OF |
this disease into a herd arc as q rule, very |
heavy. The younger the animals, the greater |
the proportional losses. IL pigs not moro |
than three months Old are attacked. the losses |
will run from ~ tn ioS per cent. /: in six-monih> |
old pigs, the mortality Is usually from - to .
per cent: while in full grown hogs the loss j. |
from 40 to 10 per cent, but under |
favorable circumstances may
fall as low p per cent. cath may take place
early in the disease. often during the first |
twenty-four hours in young animals. In
older animals the malady is not usually so /
rapidly fatal. and the patient may live along
Tor two or three weess. Even u the animal
.hrive. and generally il costs more to fattcn
him than he is worth.
Posr-NoRTEM APPEARANCES.
In most cases the lungs are congcstcd, or
hardened from InfiltratiOn, so that the dis
easea portions are heavier than water, and
will not float. The bronchial tubes and wind
pipe contain a frothy mucus. The cavity Of
The chest often contains quantity OF reddish
iuid-dropsy. The abdominal cavity is but
rarely SO affected. Occasionally the heart
sack contains considerable fluid, and the
membrane lining the heart cavities is spotted.
The small bowels are usually more or less dis
,olored, and sometimes present on the inner
nembrane small ulcers. The large bowels are
always the scat of marked changes. Large
lark spots and patches cover the lining mem.
Drane, which in many places is marked by
ieep ulcers. The purple patches OF the skin
ire dark and bloody when cut into. Dccop.
position OF the dead soon sets in.
TREATMENT.
Treatment of hog cholera does not pay. for
My small per cent. of the sick recover,
md these are not generally worth the time
pent on them. If a valuable animal is sick,
nj it is desired to save it for breeding pur-
'oses. then it should be placed in clean: dry
zen. with plenty OF fresh air, clean, whole
ONE food and clea-, cold water. If constipa-
ion is present, give from one to three table
poontuls of castor oil i'm warm milk, and
With q sc to tcri-drop doses of carbolic acid
n a half-pint of milk two or three times a
lay. If 1iarrh9a is present. give ten to
wenty grains of sulphatc of iron, night and
morning. with teaspoonful of charcoal Is
he passages are streakea with blood, give
en- to twenty drors of oil of turpentine. twice
day. in milk. Clean the pens " here the sick
re kept two or three times day. and burn
n deeply bury the cleaninss. Disinfect with
ten-per-cept solution of carboiic acid.
PREVENTION.
In no disease to which the lower animals are
.lbject can preventive measures be adopted
With better results than those which may be
.cured in connection with the swine plague.
' 18th no part of the State. So far as known,
infected with,tne parasite OF this
isease. practically we have only TO properly !
ontrol the introduction of animals from
ther States and We will soon be rid of hog ,
holera. The laws of the State do not permit
f quarantine regulations against the intro
uctiOn of animals which may be affected, =
nut simply provide that the State Veterinarian
nay prescribe such rules and regulations as
hail prevent the spread of the disease when
has made its appearance This aut hcrity
night, of course. be used to prevent the dis
ase from becoming widespread, but il is
owerless 10 prevent losses more or less Sc
ere. All hogs and piss brought into the