Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-10-04
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
DISEASE IN FARM ANIMALS.

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DISEASE IN FARM ANIMALS.
We should endeavor to prevent
the appearance of disease rather
than to cure il after it has come
sanitation, not medication, is what
will reduce disease among farm
animals to the minimum. Disease
Is by far the more common among
swine than among other farm ami
mails IN this country. Annually
above 10 per cent. of our swine
die of disease. Yet there are men
who have raised swine extern
slvely for fifteen TO twenty years
with as little disease among them
as the best-kept horses or cattle.
These men have reared pure bred
swine. aud 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 in-breeding, or wholly TO
the large feeding of corn. There
is no reason why swine should he
more subject to disease than other
farm animals. The fact that they
are, is because they are treated
differently. Their quarters are
allowed TO become more filthy {;
they are gwen dunk that other
animals would not be expected TO
use; their feed is thrown in the mud
and their Own manure aud their
shelters are of the poorest descrlp-
tioa aud devoid OF all means of
ventilation. The men who have
raised swine pure dunI, a variety
of clean, wholesome food, cOmtor-
table, Sell-yentiIated shelters, and
clean, dry quarters.
1t must not, however, be in.
erred that thera is among other
farm ANIMALS no more disease than
there should be. If more care
were taken TO provide sheep, cattle,
and horses with only healthtul food
drink, shelter. and surroundings,
il Is safe to say that there would
be much less disease among them.
The Investigations OF European
veterinaries, and of Drs. Law,
Grant, and others IN this country,
have shown that bovine tubercu-
losis is most prevalent among cows
kept in damp, todl, uDventllated
stables,O upon We; land where the
air and food are contaminated. In
other words. sanitation and hygiene
are opposed 70 bovine tuberculosis.
Nor IS this disease an exception.
Sanitary measures are the best
preventives of every disease afilict.
ing our farm animals.
The preponderance OF evidence
$ that swine. plagus, bovine tnber.
eulOsis. fOot.rot, CHAMBERS, etc, are
produced by a microbe, although
the germ theory of disease Is dis
puted by some. However, it has
been established without doubt
hat those conditions which are
unwholesome TO higher animal life
are most favorable to the microbes,
which are supposed to produce
these diseases. Thus these mi.
crobes flourish IN water cOntami-
mated with decaying organic mat
ter, or IN damp, decOmpOsins litter;
and while they are not introduced
into the system through pure drink
or food they are introduced through
foul, dirty drink and fOOd Oftener
than by any other medium.
The measures recommended for
the prevention of disease would
also be desirable were no disease
70 be feared. 1t is firmly establish.
ed that ANIMALS in low bodily con.
dition are more subject to disease
than vigorous, thrifty animals.
That which makes the farm aui.
NAL thrifty and vigorous, and there
fore less liable to disease also
makes it profitable. The more
wholesome the food, drink, aud
surroundings OF the animal, the
stronger its appetite and the more
thorough is digestion. 1t 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 con
dition" Is not allowed to exist dis.
ease IS scarcely known, aud at the
same time the animal makes the
largest return for the food cOnsum.
ed. While we have need for a
hundred vetennaries 10 each one
we now have, their work, as that
Of the physician OF the human
body, will be largely IN teaching
sanitation. - american AWicui-
turist.
Training Young Colts.
A weaned colt should be put in