The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-19
swiii-Fed Hogs KilIed By Soap.

experience of those VINO are engaSeu
in the investigation Of animal diseases
to occasionally find outbreaks of pc
culiar nature among swill-fed hogs. By
these are meant herds of greater or
less size, usually kept near or within
the outskirts of our villages or small
cities, and which are fed upon the
kitchen refuse, often including dish wa
ter, collected from hotels, boarding
houses and private dwellings. The
cause of death in these outbreaks is,
in this state, at least, usually attributed
to hog cholera. The basis for this pop
ular diagnosis seems to be in the sim
ilarity of certain of the symptoms man
ifested by these animals to those of hog
cholera, such, for example, as diar-
rhoea and partial paralysis, and the
fact that a majority Of those attacked
die. The course of the disease is ir-
regular, deaths occurring in from few
hours to several days after the symp-
toms appear. During the past year l
have had occasion to make invsstiga-
lions into the nature of several of these
outbreaks of supposedly infectious
disease In a few of these epizootics
hog cholera or swine plague was easily
demonstrated. In certain others, how
ever, these or other infectious diseases
could not be found. The animals were
usually fed the kitchen Stops collected
from hotels and boarding houses. The
tissue changes in the animals exam
ined were atypical of any known dis
ease, and notwithstanding the bacte-
biological examinations which were
made, together with animal inocula-
tions with pieces of the diseased or
gans the cause of death remained un-
determined. The post norton exami-
nations showed in nearly all of these
animals enlarged and dark colored
Emphatic glands, especially those Of
the mesentery. The blood vessels of
the mesentery were very much distend-
ed with blood, The liver and kidneys
were usually not affected, but occa-
sionally these organs were involved.
Where there had been marked nervous
symptoms the brain was much longest
ed. Occasionally the lungs contained
areas of collapse. The intestines were,
as rule, pale, and the mucous mem
brane seemed to be abnormally shiny.
The negative outcome of these investi-
cations suggested that possibly our
methods had been faulty or that some
unknown conditions existed which had
obscured the cause of death, and that
after all the popular diagnosis Of an in
fictitious disease was right. Against
this theory was the fact that the dis
ease did not spread from the affected
herds to others, although, as a rule,
precautions were not taken to prevent
its dissemination, and in some in
stances the neighboring herds were
most favorably situated for contracting
the disease if it had been contagious.
In certain of the outbreaks the exceed
ingly filthy condition in which the pens
and yards were kept suggested, in the
absence Of a knowledge of definite,
specific agents, that the animals had
died as a result of their unsanitary sur
roundings and unwholesome food a
hypothesis which in some instances is
still entertained as being highly prob
able. However, we were still confront
ed with the problem that in many out
breaks neither specific infectious dis
ease could be found nor the exciting
cause Of death pointed out
Although it was apparent that the
cause of the deaths was to be found
in the food, the feeders of this kind
of swill failed to see why they should
discontinue it's use. Naturally they felt
that If we could not find or demonstrate
the presence Of the destructive agent
in the swiIl the cause of death must be
something else, probably hog cholera,
for thousands of hogs are annually
raised upon this kind Of food. Fur
Their, the plea that such garbage was
not a suitable or even wholesome food
for their animals awaited nothing. for
the reply was, that usually their pigs
thrived upon it. Early in the summer.
in conversation on this subject with
Mr.. W. F. Davey, an enterprising farm
er living near Beaverton, N. Y. he re-
lated the circumstances concerning an
outbreak of this kind in which he had
traced the cause of the trouble to the
soap used in washing dishes. The swill.
including the dish water, was collected
from three small hotels and fed to a
herd Of swine. In short time the ami
mails began to sicken, and many of
them died. Upon inquiry it was found
that in the hotels large quantities of
powdered soap were used in washing
the dishes. This was stopped, and no
more animals died. Later in the sea-
son DR.. ]. A. McCrank, of Plattsburg.
told me Of an outbreak of an apparent
ly infectious disease among swine
which had come under his observation
and In which he nnnld nj -