St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-09-05
DISEASES AMONG SWINE.
Some Suggestions Relative to the Mortal
ity Among Hogs.

Ny AAAOaiS HOSS'
Thirty years ago the hog was re-
garded as the least likely to contract
disease of any animal kept on farms.
Az present the mortality among hogs is
greater than among any domesticated
animals. This seems strange in view of
the fact that most hogs are slaughtered
before they have reached a full year.
Young animals are generally healthy,
after they have passed the period of
weaving. If they go through the
troubles incident to the change from the
mothers milk to the food supplied by
their owners they ordinarily get along
well till they have reached maturity.
Now the pig is more easily weaned than
the lamb, colt or calf, because it will eat
great variety of liquid food which fur
nish very good substitute for mothers
milk. twill readily eatthe milk of the
COW, common swill, or any kind OF
ground grain moistened and made thin
by the use of water. 1t does not suffer
while being weaned as most young AMI
mails do 1t is not label to ''infantile
disease 1t is killed in early youth,
long before it reaches the age when
diseases are likely to occur.
Still the hog, under the Influence OF
civilization, has become very I'M
healthy animal. The disease, known
as cholera is rayaging the pig-pens in
this country as it is the human habita-
tons in Spain. In many places eau
tious farmers fear to keep many hogs.
PTyE. hQxaYH0IIE
property. The department of agricui-
ture has been Investigating the disease
known as hog cholera for
more than dozen years. Every
new commissioner of agriculture
sends out persons to investigate the hog
cholera. They examine several dead
hogs and kill good many that are sup
posed to be infected with the disease.
They make extended reports that are
published by the government and dis
tributed about the country. Ii invests
CATION could stamp out hog cholera it
would have disappeared years ago. But
the Investigations 60 on, and so does the
swine plague. The only results OF the
past Investigations are the production OF
q large number Of reports. No one at
taehes any Importance or value to them
except the buyers of paper stock. They
buV them at the current rates for old
paper, which at present are very low.
Some farmers have faith that new
government hog-doctor will help them
out of their trouble. 1t is not likely
that the great national farm overseer or
any of his numerous assistants will de-
wise any plan for preventing hogs from
becoming sick, or for curing them when
thew become diseased. Thatthe disease
popularly known as s'hog- cholera" is
contagious is now generally admitted;
that il originates in certain localities IS
also commonly believed. That its spon-
taneous appearance in non-Intected
region is due to some violation of the
laws governing health is eminently
probable. These laws are being con-
stanty violated by the owners Of hogs
On MANY farms hogs have no oppor-
tunities for washing themselves or for
taking sufficient exercise. They are
kent for months at time in yards OF
pens which are filthy beyond descrip
ton. They are kept half-starved dur
ing half the year, and stuffed during the
other half. Requiring q great variety
Of food, and obtaining it when in thei1
natural state, they are restricted to
diet of raw corn. That they should
contract disease under these circum
stances is no marvel The only wonde1
is that SO many Of them live to be sen
to the market or be killed by the butcher
Chicago Times.
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