The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-01
SANITATION And SWINE
HOW ANIMAL DISEASE rs PROP
AGATED AND SPREAD


Proper Care and Custody of Swine
-Necessity OF Burial of Dead
Animals How Germs Are Car
ried Frorm Place to Place on the
SOIes of Shoes - Interesting Ad-
dress by DIR. Gibson.
The subject of swine disease and its re-
lation to proper sanitation on the farm, was
the subject of an address delivered in June
last by DR.. J. /. Gibson, official veterinar- an
of Iowa. Many of the theories advanced are
so strikingly apt that they may well be con-
sidered by every farmer, not only in Iowa,
but elsewhere Such paper is deserving OF
general circulation, but space will not adj
nit of more than a mere condensation. These
are some Of the ideas advanced by DR.. Glib
SON.
Strange as It may seem, the individual feels
no responsibility and the law makes it no.
body's business to see to 1t that there is
sanitary condition of affairs in connection
with the lives and habits of our animals;
The law always provides for the care and
custody of money or realty but oVerlooks
the real values which exist In live stock, and
swine In particular. The only man con-
nected with the township government who
knows anything about sanitation is the health
take Inn about the yards, barns farm,
where he may notice the sanitary conditions
and give advice when there is evidence Of an
unhealthy and unsanitary state or anairs
1t is out OF his line, and no wonder he
does not make it his business to investigate.
Through the strctest of rules regulating
the care and custody OF swine and the proper
disposal Of all that die of whatever disease
It may be, the great losses that our people
suffer from year to year would be almost
entirely prevented, and the raising of hogs
would then be the surest means of making
money for the farmers Of Iowa. When you
think of the careless farmers who never bury
a dead hog or any other animal unless forced
to do so, and begin TO figure on the number
Of them In Iowa, it seems very reasonable
that we should have regular outbreaks Of
disease.
Think of the infectious nature of hog
cholera and notice how farmers go about
the neighbOrhOod from one hog lot to another,
even where the disease exists, TO sympathize
with the unfortunate owner, and thence TO
the lots of the fine breeder to congratulate
him on his success while possibly carrying
on their shoes the germs of disease which
may cause financial ruin Of the man whom
they wish TO congratulate on his apparent
success.
Again. consider the number of hog buy
ers throughout the state who go from yard
TO yard and farm to farm, carrying disease
germs, and who, upon hearing of the first
symptoms of an outbreak either go or are
sent TO make an offer for the herd in which
cholera exists. AS the neighbors are fearful
OF their herds. the buyer proceeds to visit
every farm in the community, looking for
good bargains and about the only escape is
to sell for what he offers you, for if you
don't he may drop from one shoe the germs
that will claim your herd without remunera-
ton to you.
Another great source of infection and
spread OF disease is the unsanltary practice
OF leaving the carcasses of dead hogs a prey
TO carron birds of all kinds whose eXcre-
ment is said to carry the germs Of disease
ma n IA nITfr Tha ~
anthrax have been found in the excreta Of
fly. Streams of water are a source of in
fore. derlment to the hog breeder SAM
tary precautions, practiced individually and
collectively, will materially lessen the num-
Der OF outbreaks and consequently the loss
OF property. How many men disinfect the
premises around the spot where a sick or
dead hog has lain? How many men disnfect
tending to sick or dead hog? We never
forget to disinfect the premises where a
glandered horse has been, nor do We neglect
TO dlsinfect our hands after examining such
a case. 1t is just as necessary to protection
against cholera that We do these things as
in the case Of CHAMBERS or any other infec-
tious disease. The germs of cholera will live
for several months in the soil or litter con-
tanning animal matter; hence the necessity
OF disinfecton.
In view of TVS hogs should not have
forty TO eighty acres OF a pasture run at
once put rather a small lot comparatively
with the number in the herd l prefer a
hoored feed lot that can be cleaned once or
ewice a week and sprinkled with disnfectant
Innate, TO 500 parts of water, or creoln
to leo parts, or carboic acid 2 to LOCO
may be used with good results. I know
when person begins to talk about doing
something to control hog cholera and swine
plague, great many Of the hog raisers turn
a deaf ear and say useless, fruitless in
VeStment,' etc, but l want to say here and
now, that hog cholera can be controlled and
prevented Just as surely as any other dis
ease and the man who thinks not must fall
into line, because one doubling Thomas in
community who fails to keep pace with his
neighbors, will upset all attempts at SANTA
ton.
Some people don't think a dirty pig needs
any care or attention, which is all wrong.
any animal. If you would have pure, sweet
flesh when you slaughter the animals must
have pure food and drink Impure, improper
food yltiates the blood and system generally,
and leaves an animal an easy prey 20 any
form OF contagion or infection while good
sanitary food and drink strengthen the sys-
Each township in Iowa could we'll afford
70 pay a sanitarian a salary to go from
farm to farm, saving them from the results
OF conditions unfavorable to life and health
OF swine aone, which many owners fall
to see. The money now los. in any county
would hire thirty to thirty-hve professional
men, instead OF only one to the township.
This may seem stretching the facts but the
government experiments of last year viii
prove my statements, and very much more
along this line. The state of Minnesota,
through her veterinary department, is at
tempting to control hog cholera as it would
any contagious or infectious disease and DR..
Reynolds, state veterinarian has sent me
copies Of their regulations relative to the
movements Of swine in Minnesota, which
show the thorough business way in which
they propose to go about It,
our people were agreed and united In
the work. We might progress much faster
We have taken Steps in Iowa to protect our
swine breeders while exhibiting at the state
fair, which seems to be a real protection
for which the swine breeders have very gen
epally expressed thanks and appreciation II
we could do so, l would be in favor of such
supervision Of every swine breeders farm and
yards, and see to 1t that the same protec-
ton was extended by placing rigid quaran-
tine over all diseased premises.
Tho Lboo[ ARoLS