The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-09-03
SWINE DISEASES.


How They Can Easily He PreventS. ~
Rational Treatment.
Although swine diseases made uch
havoc during the LIST half Of. 1885. y is
safe to assert that farmers are taking
no more pains now to prevent an 01t-
break than they have done in the pit
The only commendable measures are
those OF precaution. not Of cure. We
have been able to prevent disease
among our swine for more than
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
few hours from death. Our expert
ence, therefore. convinccs us that
swine diseases can be prevented. and
that this can be accomplished. not b.
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
" 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
nlence 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. II Is common opinion
that a hog prefers filthy water. This
is not correct and if it were. it would
BE- only the greater reason for provid-
ing them pure water. A hog does not
like filthy water. but it will drink
water that other animals will not: and
simply because it will bathe in its
drinking water rather than not battle
at all. il is allowed or compelled
10 drink water that no sane person
would doubt could fail to produce .
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.
II Is true that there Is no better dry
food for hogs than corn to produce fat.
But il Is equally true that no animal
should be fed almost exclusively upon
one article. Variety Of food is essen
t'al TO the health Of all animals. and
especially that Of the hog. 80 nearly
omnivorous. Throughout the season
he should have variety Of grasses.
Any thing else that can b. given TO in
crease the variety should be supplied.
When on pasture, corn may well be
the first article IN the ration; but we
are careful 10 give bran, oats. pota-
toes, rye. turnips, pumpkins any
thing chcaply'raiscd TO add variety Of
food.
Hogs. more than any other farm ami
NAL. arr diseased from faults III their
shcltering.. The greatest fault IL not
lack Of shelter hut lack Of ventilation.
Hogs are apt 10 become over-hcated 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
oftcncr made too warm in winter than
not warm enough. But they should
have protection from the sun In sum
mer. We find natures provision
(tFces) the best; but where these are
lacking sheds Of boughs or boards will
answer. II will Be seen that all meas
ures for the prevention Of swine dis
eases are summed up in rational treat
ment, and there can b no doubt that
e will b effective Il attended to IN seq
oon. Amerjc0s Aorjcultsrisk