The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-23
Disease in Farm Animals.

We should endeavor to prevent theap-
pearance of disease, rather than cure it
after it has come Sanitation, not medi-
cation, is what will reduce disease among
farm animals to the minimum. Disease
is by far the more common among swine
than among other farm animals in this
country. Annually above ten per cent
of our swine die of disease. Yet there
are men who have raised swine exten-
siyely for fifteen to twenty years with as
little disease among them as among the
best kept horses or cattle. These men
have reared pure bred swine, and some
of them are in the region where corn is
largely fed. 1t cannot, therefore, be said
that so much disease among swine is due
to inbreeding, or wholly to the large feed
ing of corn. There is no reason why
swine should be more subject to disease
than any other farm animals. The fact
that they are, is because they are treated
differently. Their quarters are allow ed
to become moe filthy they are given
drink that other animals would not be
expected to use their feed is thrown in
the mud and their own manure; and
their shelters are Of the poorest discrip-
ton and devoid Of all means Of ventila-
ton. The men who have raised swine
with little disease, have given their swine
pure drink, variety of clean, wholesome
food, comfortable, well-ventiiated shelters
ard clean, dry quarters
Itmust not, however, be inferTel that
there is among ether farm animals no
more disease than there should be- IL
more care we're taken to provide sheep,
cattle and horses with only healthful
food, drink, shelter and surroundings, j.
lie sGfe to say that there would be much
less disease among them. The inyestisa-
tions of Europeon veterinaries, and of Drs.
Law, Grant and others in this country.
have shown that bovine tuberculosis is
most prevalent among cows kept in damp
foul, unyentiIated stables, or upon wet
land where the air and food are contami-
mated In other words, sanitation and
hygiene are opposed to bovine tubsrcu-
losis. Nor is this disease an exception.
Sanitary measures are the best preyen-
tives Of every disease affecting our farm
animals.
The preponderanee OF evidence is that
swine-plagae, bovine tuberculosis, foot
rot, CHAMBERS, etc, are produced by mi
crobe, although the germ theory Of dis
ease IS disputed by some. However. it
has been established without doubt that
those conditions which are eunwholesome
to higher animal life are most favorable
to the microbes which are supposed TO
produce these diseases. Thus, these mi
crobes flourish in water contaminated
with deeaying organic matter, or in damp
decomposing litter; and while they are
not introduced into the system through
pure drink or food, they are introduced
through foul, dirty drink and food often
er than by any other medium.
The measures recommended for the
prevention of disease would also be desir-
able were 20 disease to be feared. 1t Is
firmly established that animals in low
bodily condition are more subject to dis
ease than vigorous, thrifty animals That
which makes tn. farm animal thrifty and
vigorous, and therefore less liable to dis
ease, also makes it profitable The more
wholesome the food, drink and surround
ings of the animal. the stronger its apPe-
tite and the more thorough its digestion
It eats well, the excess above the food Of
support is at the maximum, and as this
measures the gain, the profit IS large. As
digestion is vigorous. the amount Of food
which escapes assimilation IS reduced to
the minimum Where poor condition
il not allowed to exist, disease is scarcely
known, and at the same time the animal
makes the largest return for the food con-
sumed- While We have need for hundrsd