The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-02
THE COUNTRY'S HOG CROP.
Baseless Character of the Charge that
American Pork Is Unhealthy.
Not Single Authenticate Instance of Trich-
iniasis Caused by Its Use, Whether
the Meat Was Cooked or Raw.


dana IN 1883 packed z Iz4,5o3 hogS, against
1861 772 in 1882 Illinois in 1883 packed $40 $780,
against 4, 196 213 in 1882, and Ohio 2, IA III in
1888, and 1927 200 in 1882. Iowa packed nearly
1000 900 in excess of either of these States in
both years. In the twelve great pork-packing
States. in 1883, %, BIG, 912 hogs packed be-
ing rs, 500 less than in the year previous.
In 1928 Indianapolis is quoted as packing
1888, All; Chicago, T. 222 $50; Cincinnati 5O7, BIG.
In 1872 Indianapolis packed 436, 1874; Chicago,
s. 100 4S4; Cincinnati, sos, 548 The preceding
year the slaughter was slightly heavier at all
these cities.
Germany has been raising great smoke about
our pork. 1t is seen by the report just issued
that during the year ending June 30, 1882, Ger
many only received 1851, 623 pounds of our
pork and bacon, while England received 1856, 873,-
625 pounds, paying us $3S, 169 96l, against Ger
manys 1888, 402 Germany has been bowling
about our trichin@, while England who has re-
ceived so much more of our swine products, has
guzzled it down and never said word We
have not been compelled, in self-defense, either,
to consider retaliatory legislation on account of
England.
But all this howl about trichin@ is found to be
buncomLe. So far as known, no single authentic
instance, resting on competent scientific testi-
mony, can be adduced of a case of trichiniasis in
Europe arising from the use of American packed
swine products as food whether eaten raw or
cooked In each instance of outbreak of trchi
niasis in Germany, where the habit of eating hogs
meat in an uncooked state makes the disease
more prevalent than in other countries, the cpl
demic is not only distinctly traced to the con
sumption of the flesh of freshly killed native
hogs, but the further significant fact is observed
that the virulence of the infection dimin-
ishes with the time elapsing between the
killing of the animal and the consumption of its
flesh, and that an interval of only few days,
especially when the meat is even slightly
sailed, sUffices to reduce the severity of the
symptoms below a fatal stage 1t raay not be
irrationally inferred that still longer interval
would wholly remove the danger of infection,
even in uncOoked meat Scientific research as
to the duration and conditions of propagative
vitality of the trichine after the death of the
animal in which they are found, would appear to
be a very necessary step toward fuller knowl
edge of this aspect of the question.
The nations most affected by competitive ex
l. rtation from the United States are Great Brit
ain, France and Germany. In the past ten years
the exports to France have averaged $58, 49, 1874,
a trihe more than the imports. The exports to
Germany have averaged $751; 713, 236; the imports,
$44, 526, 702 Great Britain and Ireland 1.-THE
Omitted Kingdom) have been the best custom
ers buying annually to the value of 1914, OSS 800
and sending in return to the United States goods
worth $780, 627, PIP, showing difference of over
1913 1000 per annum.
The report contains correction of report
on trichiniasis as observed in Dearborn county
in 1874 by George Sutton, NJ. D., of Aurora. The
report of the Commissioner says:
1.-THE hogs in Dearborn county, Indiana, seem
TO be infected in a larger proportion than any
where else in the country, or at least were in
1874 Drs Harding and Robbins examined 245
animals slaughtered near Lawrenceburg, and
found that 40, or 16 1-3 per cent. contained this
parasite This seems to be far beyond the aver
age, however, even in this center of infection,
for Drs. Catch and Miller examined 200 animals
at the same place and only found Ii infected, or
6.5 per cent"
THE SYSTEMS OF BREEDING AND REARING.
1t is observed that the system of breeding and
rearing swine is nearly the same in all the
States, with the exception that in the colder lat
itudes more shelter is provided. Where the
climate is milder the hogs are sometimes kept
in the forests, and are protected by the under
brush, which breaks the force of the winds
Away from the forests sheds are provided, or
regular houses and straw for bedding, or the
hogs are allowed to sleep around straw stacks,
near the farm buildings. It is manifest that the
best hogs should be bred on the farms, not only
those suited to the wants of the packer but pos
sessing as much physical stamina and vital
power as possible. 1t may be suggested that
more heterogeneous food would add to the nutri-
ton of the blood, and give it greater force in
building up the system. The crossing of breeds
tends to impart greater constitutional vigor than
animals have which have been bred for con
siderable time in a direct line, and on this &C
count it may be advisable for the producers of
pork to infuse new blood into their herds For
tunately there is no lack ir- this country of
breeds, and such cross-bred hogs can be had
without any material change of form or losing
the benefits of as good skin and coats of hair
The farmers of the West understand these
principles of breeding, and are begin
ming to avail themselves of the
means at hand in order to derive the consequent
benefits While it may be for the interest of the
pork-produeer to fit his hogs for market in the
shortest space of time, the same law does not
hold good in the rearing or breeding stock. The
farmers having learned that they should grow
slower and that the food should be of such a
combination as to develop the entire structure of
the animal during the period of growth, and not
the fatty portions to excess. The hogs in the
United States are generally allowed to roam and
feed upon grass and clover as their natural food
during those months in which pasturage can be
continued and are fed mainly on corn during
the time in which they are to be finished for the
market They are supplied also with an abund-
ance of pure water, and this mode of feeding
contributes so entirely to the health of the ami
mails that but small amount of disease can be
found among them. Refuse food is seldom or
never used in the great pork producing REGIONS