The Indianapolis journal., 1885-04-08
How to Prevent Disease in Swine.

Correspondence Chicago Tribune.
It is much easier to prevent than to cure
disease in swine. After the system OF the AMI
NAL becomes thoroughly impregnated with the
germs of disease cure is usually difficult The
spores Of disease may be taken in and lie in the
system for a long time awaiting favorable con-
ditions before terminating and manifestlng
themselves. Farmers may raise large herds OF
hogs, which may fatten, prosper, and yield a
large profit to the feeder Then the seasons
change, water becomes scarce; only polluted
pools sloughs accessible where the hog
may drink and wallow. All at once the hogs be-
come sick, refuse to eat, tremble, have the
''thumps," swell up under the neck, or have So
called hog cholera and die. The farmer cannot
see any apparent cause. He calls the yeterlnar-
ian who after viewing the premises says that it
Is only matter of surprise to him that the
people living in close proximity to that filthy,
polluted cesspool in the hog yard, which has be-
come the receptacle of all the wash from the ami
NAL offa and those feeding and taking of
the hogs are not sick with typhus-feyer. Yet
these cesspools are, in many cases, all the hogs
have to drink from and wallow in Looking
over the pool yonder will countless
swarm Of insects they are busily deposltlng
their eggs in the mud and filth; the hog while
drinking swallows the spores. which hatch In
their stomachs and intestines, and are dis
tributed all through the animals system, caus-
ing great irritation pain and fever. Ihe ami
NAL is SICK has the cholera, and dies. The pork
of swine drinking the water in such pools
is no more fit to eat than the mud they walow
in the meat will look dark and dingy and smell
and taste like the mud.
WELL now," says the farmer, ''you have told
me the cause of disease, also that my pork is
nasty and unhealthy; now tell me how to remedy
all this trouble" Take up the hog yards; carry
the material upon knoll or rise Of ground, ex-
cavate a,shallow cellar, build pens over it; use
this in summer only for shade and sleeping
place. Do not put any straw or other nesting in
it; build the pens opening to the south, to let IN
the winter sunshine. hog wants sunshine In
winter and spring; in hot summer he wants
shade, not wallowing place of filthy mud.
Give him pure air, pure water, and pure feed IN
summer and let him have q nice pasture range
with but little strong feed. When you shut him
up to fatten, put him on a good board or plank
floor, with clean bedding. Change often; keep
his pen cleaned every day; feed him sound. clean
corn or chop of and oats, with lime and
salt, in a trough, and grass during summer and
fall. In winter put second growth clover hay
where he can always have free access to it.
Never butcher him except while growing, and l
will guarantee you the tenderest, sweetest, and
healthiest meat in the world
have been a close observer of the habits and
wants of swine for the last thirty years. l never
have had a sick hog, nor lost one, within that
time. 1t is a grand mistake to suppose that it is
a necessity for swine to have a wallow. Let
them range in the pasture during warm rain,
to wash them, but during cold storms keep them
housed. Do not allow too many to nest together
not over six or eight in each bunch While
my neighbors have lost heavily, some all of
their hogs, mine have been healthy
ABRAHAM BROWN