New-York tribune., 1884-02-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
AMERICAN HOGS NEyERIN BETTERHEALTH

SUGGESTIVE REFLECTIONS ON AN OFFICIAL REPORT
To me Editor or The Trt0une.
SIR: Mr.. b. F. Johnson rightly says that there
are "extravagant statements" in the Washington
Bureau of Agriculture report on hog cholera"
The document contains also coiored illustrations Of
the parts Of hogs said to have been affected with
that disease. These pictures are quite startling
and no doubt cause some people to shudder, as they
considered the possibility Of eating animals which
could mako such pictures. Tho reading matter
connected with them is not at all comforting. but
portrays condition OF things most alarming. The
lapse of five years of sober reality has demon
strated that these "eXtTavagant statements" and
pictures were nOtOrOusy sensational and imaginary.
The disease has almost entirely died out, notwlth-
standing the allegation that tho practices OF the
farmers and the means of infection were such that
il must necessarily be perpetual IL Is these Same
"eXtravagant statements which are quoted by
European governments which have caused the
trouble between them and us, or at least are maze
the basis for the shutting out OF American pork.
1t is not the question of the healthfulness OF
American pork, per but one of conjecture, with
the suppostion based upon statements made hve
years ago. During these FIVE years, and going on
six, the American people have reared millions Oh
hogs which have never had any disease, and they
have eaten their pork products with scarcely case
of injury Cabout one in million) and always from
partaking of the raw flesh. Americans are unable
to see the consistency of the charge of unhealth-
fitness in their pork products at the present tlme
based upon the reports made so many years ago,
when the evidence is universal aud beyond contra
diction that a remarkable state of health now pre-
walls among the sw inc and has for several years. The
evidence is equally conclusive that there has never
been tho amount of /" hog cholera" alleged. II
hog cholera had existed to the extent stated,
with the inevitable infection so aiarmingiy pOr-
trayed, and if hog cholera was a disease Of the
nature of plague sweeping away its subjects
without reference to conditions. the fell destroyer
would never have ceased its rayages until the
victims were no more.
Where large numbers Of animals are kept together
there will be more diseases and more liability to
disease 1t has become a custom ali over the West
10 call all swine sickness cholera" Sickness is
naturally the result of conditions and cholera is no
exception. What mean by this u.s. that conditions
which help to cause sO-called cholera, or, 10 put 1t
more practically, unfayOrabe conditions. will create
diseases and under the same conditions these dis
eases will become infectious and contagious these
DrncIples are getting TO be understood and better
SANITARY condition has brought about greater free
dom from disease, ana the so-called hog cholera
is now confined to the few localities where the sur
roundings are unhealthy, causiDg feyers and
stomach disorders. Dead hogs on the farms are
either burned or buried, a rule, and not left to
spread cOntagiOn.o American farmers have at
least the instincts Of seif-presoTyatiOn and self
protection, This fact would lead them to adopt
these precautionary measures, ana coupled with II
is an understanding of the matter which would
cause additional effort. OBSERVER
AGC-l 0rk, Jan. 2G, 1884.