The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-05
PREVENTION OF HOG CHOLERA.
Important Facts Which Farmers Can
Obtain without Charge.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In January you were. kind enough to pub
lish list of questions propounded to the
farmers of Indiana by the Indiana State
Board of Commerce as to their experience
with hog cholera. Their answers were
placed in the hands of the experiment sta
ton OF the government at. Purdue Uni
versity. Mr.. A. W. Biting. the veterinarian
of that station, had collected from ninety
five swine breeders of the State answers TO
similar questions propounded by him dur
ing the month of December, and from all
the answers received from 10th sources
has prepared Bulletin No. IS. Volume, VII.
This bulletin contains tabulated state
ment of the information received and the
conclusions reached as TO the origin and
treatment of the disease, and the best
methods of treatment and feeding swine to
avoid or lessen the disease. This bulletin
has been sent to all the farmers who made
answers to the questions propounded by the
Indiana State Board of Commerce, and
will be sent under the frank Of the station
to all persons whose names are furnished
to the experiment station, Purdue Universi-
ty, Lafayette, Ind.
The loss sustained BY the farmers oil
Indiana from this disease in 1895 was abou'
S30OO,OOO If the farmers of the State VIII
pursue vigilantly the methods OF Keeping
watching and feeding their hogs outlined
therein, and will WORK together 10 prevent
the spread of the disease. this great loss
may be reduced so to IS per cent during the
year 1896. They SHOULD keep these racks
constantly in view:
FIrst-The source of the disease is a
microbe, and in three-fourths OF the cases
they are communicated to the herd through
the water they drink. If the disease is at
all prevalent all running creeks, branches
and pools are polluted. and they should
never be used for watering. Use only deep
well, spring or boiled water sprinss mss
the water from them, and allow no pools
or stagnant water TO accumulate In the
feeding pens.
Second-Feeding pens, kept free from i'm
pure water and unclean BEDS should ne
constantly supplied with charcoal and coal
ashes, which may be best accomplished py
burning the coos as tley accumulate, as
often as once a week, thus keeping the
pens clean and plenty OF charcoal and asnsS
before the herd. If the pens are Kept clean
and the two rules above outlined are dill
gently followed. the only danger viii 5e
from the microbe being brought into the
herd from the sick herds of farmers who
rules are diligently followed the herd will
be in healthy condition and not likely 20
become infected from the germs brought in
by dogs, buzzards, or on the shoes of per-
sons coming from sick herds.
The most prevalent source of communi-
eating the disease is stock cars, which ARE
not cieansed and disinfected after delivering
diseased hogs. but carried TO all parts OF
the State and their filth left on sidings.
where the straw and filth is thrown out
and taken up by the horses feet and
wheels of wagons OF farmers visiting fhe
station and carried to their farms. This
may be prevented by stringent rule re-
curing all stock cars to be cleansei and
disnfected as soon as unloaded and before
leaving the stock yards
The power TO make rules requiring all
stock cars TO be cieansed and disinfectod
before leaving the stock yards is vested by
law in the State Live Stock Sanitary Com
mission. That commission has already con-
sented TO make rule, at its meeting on the
5th of March, requiring all stock cars TO be
cleansed and disinfected before goini
out on the lines of railroad. anc
as there is heavy penalty pro-
vided for any violation OF their ruies
we may expect all cars in the future to be
cleansed The State Board of Commerce
asks the farmers of the State to send theii
names, with pos ssoffice address, TO the ex-
pertinent station, purdue University, Lafay-
ette Ind, receive free and read the buile'
tin they are sending, and cooperate in tine
effort being made TO stamp out this disease
E. Il. MARTINDALE,
President Indiana State Board Of Com
merce.
Indianapolis, March 4.