Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-12-24
HOG oHoLERA.
OmcIai Directions for tho Prevention and
Cure Of the seourge.

The Massachusetts, Commission on
contagious diseases among domestic
have issued the following let
ter to the public:
SO many cases Of sickness among
swine have recently been reported, and
so much alarm is felt by both feeders
and consumers, that it is deemed adj
visable to acquaint the public with
some Of the facts regarding the swine
distcmper commonly called hog
cholera, or the swine plague of
modern veterinarians. Tho disease 10
not new II used TO be frequently
found prevailing among the store
swine driven from the Western States
the Eastern markets, and some
B. irs it was so prevalent at Brighton
LAT many farmers were deferred from
purchasing their supply Of pigs for
feeding at market, or from any Of the
droves which had come from the West.
As the feeding Of hogs In the West
has increased rs an industry, this dis
ease has also increased lt has been
so destructive during the past ten
years that the United States Govern
ment, through its Department of
pended freely for the services of ex-
pcrts to study and investigate 1t, and
Il is to the researches Of such vetcriu-
arians as Drs. Law, Dctmers and Sal
mon that we have learned what little Is
known regarding the nature of this
disease.
All authorities agree that the disease
(anthraN, swine plague, hog cholera,
or by whatever other name il may be
callcd) is highly contagious, and that
il owes its existence in any given local
ity. when found, to seed planted, just
as much rs a field of corn or patch Of
weeds by the roadside owe their exist
ence to seed planted. BY what means
the germs of hog cholera are conveyed
from one point H. anoher in each par
ticular case, it is not always easy to de-
termine II is possible that It may be
carried upon the feet Of rats or birds,
which frequent swine pens and migrate
from one locality to another The oX-
crcments and the scabs from surface
sOrcs, when dried and ground TO dust
may be picked up and carried to con-
siderable distances by strong winds.
and find lodgment in localities favora-
BILE TO the spread of the disease. Brooks
and rivers may also carry the germs
to localities down the stream.
But the Investigations of the COM
mission during the past few months in
which the disease has prevailed in Mas
sachusetts, point in but single dircc-
ton for its origin, and that TO the
Western hogs which are brought to our
market weekly over the railroads.
The disease has been unusually prev
alent at some of the sources of supply
during the past year, and the nature Of
the malady is such that it would be
next to am impossibillity TO determine
to certainty at the shipping points
that no hogs which had been exposed
to the disease were being received with
the healthy ones, nor is it always an
easy matter on the arrival of the hogs
at their destination TO determine
whether certain ailing ones are affected
with the disease or only weak from
their long ride in crowded cars.
The most skillful veterinarian can
not in many cases pronounce upon the
disease without pOst-mOrtem eXami-
nation, and not always then till the in
testines have been cut open and their
inner surface exposed, precautfOn
not 10 be expected in ordinary practice
at the abattoirs.
With scarcely an exception, thus far,
no case of wcll-deiined hog cholera has
come to the notice Of the Commission
ers that could not be traced to diseased
pork direct, or 10 city or other swill
which probably contained IL i'm some
form or other. Beef has been high.
pork low, and at the cheaper class of
boarding-hOuscs a large consumption
Of fresh pork would be expected. In
preparing it for the pot or the oven any
little bloody or discolored bits would
naturally be trimmed of. and, with the
skin in some cases. be thrown in the
swill barrel, whence IL goes TO some
farm in the country to be fed to swine.
To allay any unreasonable fears con-
cerning the use of Western pork, or
any pork as an article of food, Il should
be stated that so far as known hog
cholera is never taken by man; AMI
further, that in case the germs Of the
disease may exist in a sample If pork,
the heat required for thoroughly cook
ing il would in all probability render
il safe food even for swine.
The obvious cautionary measures,
therefore, To be recommended both to
city consumers and farmers, are 10
guard the swill barrels from receiving
any scraps or bits of raw pork or pork
blood, from any source whatever.
H. a h.. valla.N essrnI af.nr1I
fuse to receive it except from such fam
lilies as can be trusted in the matter;
otherwise they should take the risk at
their own peril.
II the disease breaks out in herd,
keep the herd completely isolated as
long as danger exists. II IS advisable
to separate The sick from the apparent
ly healthy, and to give the latter in
their food carbOlic acid, ninety-liye per
cent, at the rate Of ten drops 10 each
one hundred and fifty pounds Of live
hog, three times day. This is not cX-
pected TO cure badly diseased animals,
but it is believed will have tendency
10 destroy germs that may obtain ae-
cess 10 the food Of feeding places.
Pens where the diseise has existed
should be thoroughly cloancl and
drenched with weak solutions OF car
bolic acid. The manure should be-
carted to the field and plowed in. a
sandy soil is 10 be preferred. as favor
ing more rapid decomposition. Piling
the manure and forking it over two or
three times till it is thoroughly heated
in all lis parts viii tend 10 destroy the
germs Of the disease. As freezing does
not destroy, nut only seems TO render
the germs still more virulcnt, Il can not
be deemed perfectly safe to introduce O
now lot Of healthy swine into pens
where the disease has existed ill sew
eral months have expired. aud prefer.
ably not till after the heat Of summer
has had is purifying effect.
Bury all hogs dj ing from the disease
deeply aud securely against molesta-
tion by dogs or by other swine. The