The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-30
Disease in Farm Animals

We should endeavor to prevent the an
pearance of disease, rather IN to cure it
after it has come, says the American
Agr1cutturtSt. Sanitation, not medica-
ton, is what will reduce disease among farm
animals to the minimum. Disease is by far
the more common among swine than among
other form animals in this country An
nually above 10 per cent. of our swine die
of disease. Yet there are men who have
raised swine extensively for fifteen to
twenty years with as little disease among
them as among the best kept horses or cat
tie. These men have raised pure-bred
swine, and some of them are in the region
where corn is largely fed. 1t cannot, there
fore, 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 be more subject to dis
ease 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 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 description aud devoid of all
means of ventilation. The men who have
raised swine with little disease, have given
their swine pure drink, variety of clean,
wholesome food, comfortable, well-venti =
lated shelters and clean, dry quarters.
1t must not, however. be Inferred that
there is among other farm animals no more
disease thar there should be. If more care
were taken to provide sheep, cattle and
horses with only healthful food, drink,
shelter and surroundings, it is safe TO say
that there would be much less dissa SO
among them. The investigations of Euro
pean veterinaries, and of DIS. Law, Grant
and others in this country, have shown that
bovine tuberculosis is most prevalent
among COWS kept in damp, foul, unventi-
lated stables, or upon wet land were the air
and food are contaminated. In other words.
sanitation and hygiene ara opposed to
bovine tuberculosis. Nor is this disease an
exception. Sanitary measures are the bsst
preveatives of every dsase affecting our
farm animals.
The measures recommended for the pre-
ventlon of disease would also be desirable
were no disease to be feared. 1t is firmly
established that auimals in low bodily con-
dition are moro subject to disease than
vigorous. thrifty animals. That which
makes the farm animal thrifty and vigor-
Gus, and therefore less liable to disease, also
makes it profitable. The more wholesome
the food, drink and surroundings OF the
animal, the stronger its appetite and the
more thorough its digestion. 1t eats well :,
the excess above the food of support is at
the ma ximum, 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" is not allowed to
exist, disease is scarcely known, and at the
same time the animal makes the largest
return for the food consumed. While we
have need for huldred veterinaries to
each ono we now have, their work. as that
of the physician of the human body, will
be largely in teaching sanitation.