The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-09-06

in water for four months. Making all |
due allowance for external influences |
and competition with the bacteria In
natural water, we are forced to assume /
that they may live at least month in !
streams. This would be time enough
to infect every herd along its course.
If the larger streams have such a
marked influence upon the percentage
OF loss along their courses, it is only
reasonble to suppose that the smaller
streams and ponds have like effect.
1t is common practice to dig out a pond
to receive the surface water from build
ings and yards, to dam ravines and
creeks, to catch the water from tile
drains and springs for water for hogs.
In such cases it follows that they re-
ceive only surface water. It is appar-
ent, then, that the first step to be taken
in the prevention of hog cholera is the
securing of wholesome water supply.
ALI animals are more or less subject
to parasitic diseases, and the Intestinal
tract, owing to its relation to the food
and water consumed, becomes the
favorite seat of attack. Counties mum
bers of germs, eggs, larvae, etc, enter
with the food, but only small part
are in proper state OF development
when they enter or they do not find
suitable conditions for continuing life
ar therefore perish. Water plays
more important part as a carrier Of
parasites than does the food,
The life cycle of the parasites that
affect animals, nearly always includes
stage of development outside OF the
body. Some parasites are passed out
of the body as eggs. These hatch and
after undergoing greater or less change,
they may be prepared to again inhabit
another animal. Some pass out as
larvae (msggots) and after time find
entrance to another stomach. A few
require an intermediate host. The eggs
of the liver fuke develop in the snail
and most tape worms prepare in one
animal for their full development in an
animal of another species. The eggs
and larvae Of parasites perish without
water. Drying kills them. But bac
terra can generally stand considerable
dr. rJing and can live in dust till they
are washed in streams or other sources
of water for animals. But even bac-
terra must have water in which to mul-
tiply. They cannot increase when dry.
Hence it follows that both bacterial
and parasitic diseases Of animals are
less likely to occur on high pasture
lands than on low, damp meadows.
Among the most destructive parasitic
diseases with which we have to con
tend is the twisted stomach worm of
sheep. It is found especially on low
lands along creek bottoms and around
ponds. It affects sheep Of all ages, but
is particularly fatal to lambs. In 1885
it caused a loss Of $4,000 lambs and
sheep in Indiana. In seasons of exces
sive rainfall it may occur upon any
pasture, but in ordinary seasons it
causes little damage except upon the
low pastures. The eggs and embry os
are passed from the sheep and fall with
the droppings upon the pasture, and
may be washed into the streams or
ponds from which the sheep drink.
Moisture is necessary for their existence
outside of the body, and the drier the
pasture the less the opportunity for
conveying the parasite from one sheep
to another. In seasons Of heavy rain
fall, when the grass is kept constantly
wet, the danger may be mitigated to a
certain extent by changing the sheep
from one pasture to another every
other day.
Another disease of sheep that is con
veyed in the same way is the nodular
disease. It is due to small worm, and
while it does not manifest itself until
winter, the time the infection is spread
from one sheep to another is during
the summer months.
Such parasitic diseases as paper skin,
liver fuke and lung worm of sheep,
and the worms in hogs, horses and cat
tie, are all conveyed in much the same
way and are largely due to surface
water. Pure water from deep wells ia
the prevention.
J. L. LADD.
Bay City, Texas.
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