Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-02-18
SWINE DISEASES.
Modern Methods of Feeding to Some Ex-
tent Responsible.

Modern Methods of Feeding to Some Ex-
tent Responsible.
However various may be the opin-
cause or causes of the diseases which
carry off SO many hogs every year,
there is no question as to the great
losses which the diseases inhict. Many
think that breeding for early maturity
occasions loss of stamina which
makes the hog more readily succumb.
Others talk most of the effects of con-
tinuous corn feeding as producing n
decline in vigor that renders swine less
able to resist disease, while others
place the whole blame on defective
sanitary conditions. Additional theo-
ries exist and might be cited if it were
necessary. 1t is probable that the
early matured animal, at present de-
manded, does suffer some loss of STAN
ina, but course OF breeding that
makes hogs marketable ut eight in
stead of Is months is not very likely to
be given up, even though some loses
do result from it.
There is margin of advantage suffi-
GENTLY large to stand some loss. 1t is
probably quite certain, too, that con-
tinuous corn feeding, and especially
the feeding of new corn, occasions loss,
but here, also, IN a corn country there
are gains from this course Of feeding
which go TO make up for the losses.
There is moi, however, any gain in any
direction from maintaining bad sani-
tary conditions and treating The hog
upon the false theory that he thrives
best in the midst of filth. There is
never any compensation gained in
keeping hogs in large punches instead
of dividing the stock up into several
small ones. If there is one thing well
settled in the minds Of investigators
with regard to the fatal germ diseases,
it is that when hogs die of cholera OF
swine plague, the carcasses should be
burned.
Some authorities, as q permissible
alternative, say that it will do TO bury
four feet deep, provided the carcass is
covered with quicklime, but in how
many hundreds and thousands of cases
all over the swine belt has it been the
custom TO dispose OF the carcasses il
the easiest possible way, either no
burying them at all, throwing then
into some out-of-the-way slough from
which the drainage contaminates tn,
water courses and spreads disease t.
ali farms lying below; or if burial il
given, it is of the rudest and most care
less kind, barely covering the carcass
and not at all preventing the subsc
quent spread of the disease. In cholera
too, how little restraint is placed up
on visitors to herds. A man may visi
bali dozen herds in day in whicl
one had the cholera in the morning
and may plant the seeds of the diseas
in the whole of them before nightfall
When the stock on farm is cleane,
out and it is re-stoclsed, in how man,
instances is there an utter failure t.
take any adequate precautions agains
the spread of the disease to the new
stock from the old pens, yards, etc. Ii
our correspondence with inquiries il
this situation we have been struc
with the number of cases in whic
those who realize the necessity of dc
ing some disinfecting, seem anxiou
to see how little they can possibly ge
lalong with. There is hardly dout
that swine growers have been large
1IV responsible in the past for tn
! frequent outbreaks of cholera, b.
cause Of habitual neglect TO observ
necessary sanitary precautions. 1t ma
be that in most cases the neglect wa