The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-08
SWINE DISEASES.
How They Can Easily Be Prevented by
Rational Treatment.

How They Can Easily Be Prevented by
Rational Treatment.
Although swine diseases made such
havoc during the last half Of 1885, it is
safe to assert that farmers are taking
no more pains now to prevent an out
break than they have done in the past.
The only commendable measures are
those OF precaution, not Of cure. We
have been able to prevent disease
among our swine for more than a
dozen years, but have never been able
to cure hog sick with swine plague.
Our swine have repeatedly nosed,
through the fence, hogs removed but a
few hours from death. Our expert
ence, therefore, convinces us that
swine diseases can be prevented, and
that this can be accomplished, not by
keeping the germs away from the
swine, which is impossible, but by
keeping the hogs in such high state
of health that they are able successful
ly to combat against the causes of dis
ease. Swine are subject to the same
physical laws which rule over horses,
cattle and sheep, and the greater prev
alence of disease among swine is proof
only that they are oftener deprived of
the conditions of health.
Disease oftenest finds its way into
the body of the hog through the drink.
ing water. 1t is common opinion
that hog prefers filthy water. This
is not correct, and if it were, it would
be only the greater reason TO: provid-
ing them pure water. A hog does not
like filthy water, but ;t will drink
water that other animals will not; and
simply because it will battle in its
drinking water rather than not battle
at all, it is allowed or compelled
to drink water that no sane person
would doubt could fail to produce a
diseased condition of the body in the
case of any animal. We have found
that when hog is given his choice be-
tween pure and impure water he will
take the former
1t is true that there is no better dry
food for hogs than corn to produce fat.
But it is equally true that no animal
should be fed almost exclusively upon
one article. Variety of food is essen
tial to the health of all animals. and
especially that of the hog, so nearly
omnivorous. Throughout the season
he should have variety of grasses.
Any thing else that can be given to in
crease the variety should be supplied.
When off pasture, corn may well be
the first article in the ration; but we
are careful to give bran, oats, pota-
toes, rye, turnips, pumpkins-any
thing cheaply raised to add variety Of
| food.
Hogs, more than any other farm ami.
NAL, are diseased from faults in their
sheltering. The greatest fault is no,
lack of shelter but lack of ventilation.
Hogs are apt to become over-heated in
their shelters, and they rapidly foul
the air. Hence the shelter should have
openings all around under the caves
and where the hogs are in lots they
should not have any litter. Hogs are
oftener made too warm in winter thar
not warm enough. But they should
have protection from the sun in sum
mer. We find natures provision
(trees) the best; but where these are
lacking sheds of boughs or boards viii
answer 1t will be seen that all meas
ures for the prevention of swine dis
eases are summed up in rational treat.
ment, and there can be no doubt tina,
it will be effective if attended to in sea
son. american Agriculturist