The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-02-20

de. The course o. the disease e r.
regular. deaths occurring IN from a few
hours 70 several days aftes the aymp'
toms appear. During the past year
have had occasion 10 make invsstlga.
tons into the nature Of several Of these
outbreaks Of supposedly infectious
disease In a few Of these eplzootiea
hog cholera or swine plague was easily
demonstrated. IN certain others, how
ever these or other Infectious disease
could not be found. The animals were
usually Ted the Kitchen alopa collected
from hotels and boarding aouses. The
tissue changes IN the anluaia exam
lned were atypleal Of any known ais'
ease. and Notwithstanding the bacte-
biological examlnatlnns which were
mnde. together with animal inocuia
lions with pieces Of the diseased or
gans. the cause o. death remained I'M
determined The post norton exami'
| nations showed 10 nearly al Of these
animals enlarged and dark colored
Emphatic glands. especially those Of
the meaentery. The blood vessels Of
the mcsenicry we're very much dis,end'
ed With blood. The liver and kidneys
we're usually not affected. but occe-
slonaliy these organs were Involved.
Whore there had been marked nervous
symptoms the brain was much congest'
ed. occasionally shc lungs contained
areas Of collapse The lntestines were.
az a rule, pale. and the mucous mem
brane seemed 10 be abnOrmally shiny.
The negative outcome Of these investl-
cations suggested that possibly our
methods had been faulty or that some
unknown conditions existed which had
oiacured the cause Of death. and that
after all the popular diagnosis Of an IN
fec,lous disease was right. Against
this theory was the fact that the dis
ease did not spread from the Effected
herds 20 others. although. as a rule.
precautions were not taken 70 prevent
SIS dissemination. and In some In
stances the nslshboring herds were
most fayorably situated for contracting
the disease II It had been contagious.
In certain Of the outbreaks the exceed
ingiy hlthy condition In which ihe pens
and yards we're Kept suggested. In the
absence Of a knowledge Of definite,
specific agents. that the animals had
died as a result Of their unsanitary eur
roundlngs and unwholesome food, 4
hypothesis which In some Instances Il
sim entertained as being highly prob
able. However. We were still confront.
} Cd win the problem that In many out
= breaks neither a specific Infectious dis
ease could be found nor the exciting
sause Of death pointed out
Although Il was apparent that tn
cause Of the deaths was to be found
IN the food. the feeders Of this kint
o. swili failed 10 see why they shoull
5 discontinue its use Naturally they Eel
. that n we could no, end or demonstrate
the presence Of the destructive agen
!. IN the swili the cause OF death must b
= something else. probably hog cholera
!, Tor thousands Of hogs are annuall
! raised upon this Kind Of food. Fur
! Their. the plea that such garbage va
n not a suitable or even wholesome foo
\ Tor their animals avalled nothing. 70
I. the reply was. that usually their piE
a ihrived upon Il. Early In the summe
Il in conversation on this subject wit
Mr. W. F. Davey. an enterprislrg farm
er living near hreweri0a. n. =. be r.
ID lated the circumstances concerning a
p outbreak Of this kind IN which he IA
Re traced the cause Of the trouble 10 n
n soap used In washing dishes. The swll
e including the dish water. was collecte
~ from three small hotels and fed 10
y herd OF swine In a short time the an
y mails began 20 sleken. and many ,
i them died. Upon inquiry II was foun
= that In the hotels large Quantities
4. powdered soap were used Ia washln
y the dishes. This was stopped. and Z
= more animals died. Later In the eel
I. son Dr. J. A. MeCrank. Of plattsbus
4 told me Of an outbreak Of an apparen
\. IL infectious disease among swiI
be which had oome under his Observable
he and In which he conld not make
II positive diagnosis In the investigate
Dr. Of its cause he found that the hoI
be were being Ted the swill. inciuding Il
be dlshwater, from a hotel Upon inqul
n he found that powdered soap was belI
used IN large Quantities. The sw
n. from this place vas stopped and 4
y disease disappeared. In following
"a the line Of inquiry which these exT
en- fiences suggested. Il was found n
- there is among the more entcrprlsi
~ farmers q quite general belief n
u these soaps. when given In consider
~ bic quantities. are injurious and ev
a.. fatal 10 hogs. The eoneensus Of OPT
'm ion on this subject. together with {
M more definite observations Of Mr. 7
IA vey and Dr NcCFank. appeared 20
~ 50 conclusive that Il seemed importa
h. 10 determine by careful experiment
h What extent. II Al all. powdered soa
h can be considered a. the cause o. des
"a IN th.s class OF outbreaks.