The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-05
WHENCE COMES DISEASED
A Question Which Hog Owners Should
Think About.

A Question Which Hog Owners Should
Think About.
1t pays to, at times, ask a question
and then put on the thinking cap and
try to answer it. Nor will | do any
harm if the question appears at first
sight the reverse of orthodox. for there
is a good deal of the latter article in the
world that will bear investigating and
thinking about. 1t does not pay to take
too much for granted merely because
somebody said so, or. because it is the
prevailing belief. The truth is not in
jured by Investigation nor are the
muscles of the organ of the mind likely
to be overtaxed by little quibbling at
accepted theories. We think we know
a great deal until we begin to inveSti-
gate, but the more we think and
analyze the greater appears our iguo-
rance.
Some things are self evident. others
are only supposed to be. We know
our hogs die; but why. we do not know.
We are sure they die of disease. but what
that disease is we are not sure of.
There must be a cause for the disease,
but what that cause is. whence it comes
and why. is not so evident. There are
many causes and many diseases; many
deaths and much loss, and it behooves
all who grow swine to stop and ask
why and wherefore.
Whence comes disease? If we can
answer this question we are on the high
road to the successful solution of a
great problem, and it must be both
asked and correctly answered before
the cause can be removed and remedy
applied. Webster tells US that disease
is arrangement of any of the vital
functions in which their natural action
is interrupted or disturbed. By vital
functions we mean the work of the vital
organs, by which life is sustained. The
principal of these are the stomach and
the lungs.
In the living organism death is as
constant as life. That is to say, we
are ever dying whilst living; every
hearts beat exhaustS vitality, hence
the necessity for food to supply the
loss. To preserve life in a normal con-
dition we must furnish such elements
as have been eliminated. If more of
one element is supplied and less of
others the equilibrium is disturbed, ma
ture is unbalanced, the vital functions
are deranged and disease is the result
Pain is the great friend to life because
it tells that something is wrong. 1t
does not tell what is wrong, for the
head may ache when the stomach is
out of order, and boils exist when the
blood is impure and the natural func
tons unable to carry off the impurity;
in which, to cure the head we must
correct the stomach and to get rid of
the boils we must eliminate the impuri-
ties of the blood by natural processes.
In cold weather as in hot, nature
tres to preserve an equilibrium but to
do so needs the wherewith TO do it.
Heat producing food is required when
the weather is cold and is not called for
when it is hot To supply it when it is
not wanted and not to furnish it when
called for, is to unbalance the vital
functions and 10 create the condition
called disease.
Nature requires food, it has been OBJ
served, to supply waste; we may add,
and to furnish the elements of growth.
Only for these does she call for food.
That portion of the animal organiza-
ton which is used the most, is ex-
hausted the most, and calls for extra
help to supply the loss. In a state OF
nature the muscular tissues are neces-
sarily taxed more than any other and
these are renewed by feeding. The
of wild animals are therefore
found one mass of muscular tissue,
or lean meat, and that is
their natural condition. During the
process of summer feeding they
may, if food is abundant, lay on some
fat, but if they do it is only an incum
brance to them, and of no manner OF
service unless as a supply of fuel for
in winter, when food is
scarce and the cold exhaustive. Nature
supplies to such animals but little fat
forming food. 1t is only in a state OF
that animals are made
and kept fat. and in that condition they
carry that which is a source of weak
ness instead of strength. and of disease
rather than health. No man seeks fat
as source of strength, and though
moderately stout man may be called
healthy looking, it is more apparent
than real. hence the more he has of il |
the weaker he is, and the greater is the
arrangement of the vital functions
which we call disease. Do we ask Their |
whence comes disease in our hogs? We |
answer, fat is condition of disease, anG |
the more fat the more disease.-COL |
mans Rural World.