Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-03
Suggestions Relative to Hog Cholera.

Suggestions Relative to Hog Cholera
Dear SGr.-In view of the grea
loss sust aimed by the pork raisers o
this state from the ravages of HOG
Cholera (Swine Plague it is deemed
expedient at this time to call your at.
! tention, and through you the attention
of the community in which you live to
the Importance of taking active meas
ures to prevent its further spread.
Ii the disease has prevailed in your
locality, [ wish you would call the
attention of the owners of infected
premises to the urgent necessity of a
thorough cleaning and careful disin-
lection, for it is an established fact
that its germs will both live aud
multiply in old straw piles, manure
heaps and similar substances. After
disposing of all such material, either
by blowing under, burning or storing
IN secluded place, the pens should be
thoroughly cleansed by washing with
solution of carbolic acid in the pro-
portion of five pounds to a barrel of
water, or copperas (Ferri sulph. J
twenty-four pounds to the same guam
tlty of water Burning sulpher IN the
pens with the doors closed also has a
wholesome effect. After disinfection
the doors and windows should be
thrown open, and light and air freely
admitted. But so great is the vitality
OF the virus that even with all possible
precautlon and the most careful disin-
lection there is still danger of the dis
ease re-appearing, and in some instances
it has been found advisable to abandon
the keeping of hogs for a season.
1t the disease appears or is now pre-
valent in your neigbborhood, the
effort should of course be directed to
prevent its spread, for this purpose all
communication between healthy and
diseased herds should be at once sus-
pended. Visiting infected premises
out of curiosity or for the purpose of
gaining information has in several
instances cost our farmers dearly; for,
Unfortunately y, on their return home
they not only carried with them some
knowledge Of the symptoms Of the
disease, but about their clothes and on
their soiled shoes lurked it's germs
ready to perform their deadly work.
The carcasses of diseased hogs
should be buried deeply and not sold
for rendering. Wagons employed by
such establishments have done great
harm IN some parts Of Illinois by
carrying the infection from one place
to another; running streams should be
avoided, as the disease frequently
spreads along their courses.
When the disease makes its appear
ance in a herd, the sick hogs should be
separated from the healthy, in so
doing always remove the healthy from
the infected pens.
Treatment Of the sick is not gener-
ally advisable, but it is well to give
those that are exposed to the contagion
ten drops Of pure carbolic acid for
every hundred weight Of pork, mixed
with the food. The intention being to
fortify the system as much as possible
against the disease.
It your neighborhood is still free
from the malady, too great care cannot
be taken to prevent its introduction
Hogs brought from distance should
always be regarded with suspicion,
especially SO if they have made a
journey in the cars. or passed through
any Of the large stock yards.
Trusting that you will cooperate
earnestly in the movement, have the
honor to be, Yours truly,
Y. T. ATKINSON, V, S.,
State Veterinarian.