Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-11-21
DISEASES OF SWINE.
'" PREVENT Their Appearance tn,
Importance OF Sanitation.

~" 10 Prevent Their Appsarauce.-Ths
Importance Of Sanitation.
we should endeavor to prevent the
appearance OF disease, rather than to
cure 1t after it has come. Sanitation.
not medication, is what will reduce
uisease among farm animals to the
minimum. Disease is by far tho moro
common among swine than among
oiner farm animals in this country.
Annually above ten per cent of our
swine die OF disease. Yet there are
men who have raised swine extensive
" Tor fifteen to twonty years with as
i,e'le disease among them as among
'he best-kept horses or cattle. These
men nave reared pure-bred swine. and
some OF them are in the region where
corn Is largely fed. 1t can not there
lore, be said that 80 much disease
among swine is due to in-breeding, or
wholly to the large feeding OF corn.
mere is no reason why swine should
DO 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 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
and devoid Of all means Of ventilation.
lhe men who have raised swine with
ilttie disease have given their swine
pure drink, a variety of clean, whole
some food, comfortable, well-ven-
tllated shelters and clean, dry quar-
tiers.
1t must not, however, be inferred
That there Is among other farm AMI
mails no more disease than there should
be. If more care we're taken to pro-
vide sheep, cattle and horses with
only healthful food, drink, shelter and
surroundings, it 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 coun-
try, have shown that bovine tuber-
culosis is most prevalent among cows
kept in damp, foul, unventilated sta
bJes, or upon wet land where the air
and food are contaminated. In other
words, sanitation and hygiene are OPP
posed to bovine tuberculosis Nor is
this disease an exception. Sanitary
measures are the best preventives OF
every disease affecting our farm ami
mails.
Tho preponderance OF evidence is
that swine-plague, bovine tuberculosis,
foot-rot, CHAMBERS, etc, are produced
by o microbe, although the germ
theory OF disease is disputed by some.
However. it has been established
without doubt that those conditions
which are unwholesome to higher ami.
NAL life are most favorable to the
microbes which are supposed to pro-
duce these diseases. Thus, these
microbes flourish in water contain
mated with decaying 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 oftener than by
any other medium.
The measures recommended for the
prevention Of disease would also b.
desirable were no disease to be feared
1t is firmly established that animals il
low bodily condition are more subjec
to disease than vigorous, thrifty an
imals. That which makes the farm
animal thrifty and vigorous, and there
fore less liable to disease, also makes
1t profitable. The moro wholesom,
the food, drink and surroundings o
the animal. the stronger its appetit,
and the more thorough its digestion
1t eats we'll, the excess above the foot
of support is at the maximum, and a
this measures the gain, the profit i
large. As digestion is vigorous, y: II.
amount OF food which escapes assimi
lation is reduced to the minimum
Where poor condition" is not al
lowed to exist, disease is scarcel,
known, and at the same time the an
imal makes the largest return for thu
food consumed. While we have nee,
for hundred veterinaries to each on,
VIC now have. their work, as that o
the physician of the human body. viii
be largely in teaching sanitation
American Agriculturist