Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-11-26
nnME.Ilr EcOYoMY.
The RAPID lncreas' Of Diseases Among
Swine, and the Investigations by Profess
ed Experts Industrial MISCELLANY.
nlsenses Among SwIne.

Diseases Among Swine.
Thirty years ago the hog was re-
garded as the least likely to contract
disease OF any animal kept on farms,
says The Chicago Times. At present
the mortality among hogs is greater
than among any domesticated ami.
mails. This seems strange in view of
the fact that most hogs are slaughter
ed before they have reached full
year Young animals are generally
healthy, after they have passed the
period of weaving. 1t they go through
the troubles incident to the change
from the mothers milk to the food
supplied by their owners they Ordi-
narily 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 furnish a
very good substitute for mother ;
milk. 1t will readily eat the milk of
the COW, common swIll, or any kind
of ground grain moistened and made
thin by the use of water. II does not
sulier while being weaned as most
young animals DO. 1t is not liable to
"infantle diseases. 1t is killed in
early youth. long before it reaches the
age when diseases are likely to occur.
Still the hog, under the influences of
civilization, has become very un-
healthy animal. The disease known
as cholera is ravaging the pigpcns in
this country as it is the human habita-
tons in Spain. In many places eau
tious farmers fear to keep many hogs.
They regard them as very hazardous
property. The department of agri-
culture has been investigating the
disease known as hog cholera for
more than dozen years. Every new
commissioners of agriculture sends out
persons to investigate the hog cholera.
They examine several dead hogs and
kill good many that are supposed to
be infected with the disease. They
make extended reports that are pub.
lished by TIE government and dlstri-
buted about the country. If invcsti-
cation could stamp out hog cholera it
would have disappeared years ago.
Bat the Investigations 90 on, and so
does the swine plague. The only re.
suits OF the past investigations are the
production of large number of re-
ports. No one attaches any impOr-
lance or value to them except the
buyers OF paper stock. They buy
them at the current rates for old pa
per, which at present are very low.
Some farmers have faith that new
government hOg-doclOr will help them
out of their trouble. II is not likely
that the great national farm ovcrscer
or any of his numerous assistants will
devise any plan for preventing hogs
from becoming sick. or tOrcuriug them
when they become diseased. That the
disease popularity known a hog
cholera is contagious is now generally
admitted; that it originates in certain
localities is also commonly believed.
That its spontaneous appearance in a
nOn-infectcd region l. due to some yiO-
lation OF the laws governing health j.
eminently probable. These laws are
being constantly violated by the own
crs Of hogs. Onmany farms hogs have
no opportunities tor washing them
selves or for taking sufficient exercise.
They are Kept for months at time in
Yards or pens which are filthy beyond
description. They are kept half
starved during half the year. and
stuffed during the other half. Requir-
ing great variety OF TODD, and OBJ
tanning it when in their natural state,
they are restricted to diet of raw
corn. That they should contract DIS
ease under these circumstances is no
marvel. The only wonder is that so
many of them live to be sent to the
market or be killed by the butcher.