The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-05
HOG CHOLERA DUE TO WAFER.
Decrease in the Disease During the
Last Half Year.

Prof A. w. Biting, of Purdue University,
submitted to the Governor yesterday a re-
port on the swine industry and hog cholera,
a synopsis of which was read to the State
Board of Agriculture in the afternoon by
Charles l.. Wilson, the Governors private
secretary. The report contains much valu-
able information and received the close at
tention Of the board. In part it is as fol-
lows:
The loss due to disease among swine
since July l. 1897, has been fully 20 per cent
less than for the corresponding period of
last year, which means saving to the State
of at least $3,5OO000. This estimate is made
upon weekly reviews of the condition in
all parts of the State The greater part
of the gain may be credited to the unusual
ly favorable conditions for the prevention
of the swine plague and possibly some credit
is due to the influence of several hundred
articles that appeared upon the subject as
a result of the special investigation made
last summer. The number of hogs on hand
Jan. /, 1898, is probably 10 per cent. greater
than a year ago.
THE capital represented by the swine in
dustry in this State is much larger than is
generally supposed. Only three products
of the farm-corn, wheat and horses, and
the annual output of only one industry, the
packing industry, have greater value. The
capital represented is more than twice that
represented by all the buggies and wagons
manufactured in the State, two and half
times that of the glass, three and half
times that of the furniture, or four times
that. of the farm machinery; The loss to
the industry last year was twice that of the
total value of the coal mined or three times
that of the stone quarried. The loss of
wages caused by the coal strike last sum-
mer which caused so much hardship and
required public aims, was probably not as
great as the loss from hog cholera in three
or four of the principal counties. Indiana
ranks eighth as a State in point OF valua-
ton of her hog product: Iowa, Missouri
Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Pennsylvania and
Texas exceeded her in the order named
The average number of hogs produced for
the five years ending June l, 1890, was 4,2O4, :
Csc, and for the three years ending June J.,
THE greatest drawback to the industry
in this State is hog cholera The loss from
this cause alone is greater than the annual
output from several of our most important
manufactures. The total loss was 1893 ,457,
one-fourth the entire product valued at
S., 1896, 742. A careful study of the distribu-
ton of the disease shows the rivers to be
the principal carrier The townships bor-
dering upon the Wabash and north and
south forks of the White river show a less
so per cent. greater than that in the second
tier away and about 70 per cent greater
of these larger rivers is also true of the
smaller. A careful study was made of the
water supply for stock during the past
summer. and it is evident no other detail in
the industry needs Improvement so much
as this. Other stock, as a rule, are sup
piled with water of fair degree OF purity,
but the hog is neglected. 1t is not an UNI
common thing to see artificial ponds con-
Structed to husband surface water for their
supply, the most unfortunate thing that can
be done The escape from disease this year
may be largely attributed to the fact that
the drought was SO severe ard long that
these sources were all exhausted. Disease
was present until the drought set in and
required again after 1t broke in the section
where the rainfall was sufhcient to I'LL these
holes.
"A system of tests was made upon 13S hog
cholera cures sold in this State. The in
vestigation has shown that while there are
few honest efforts made to discover a
cure, by far the greater number of cures
are. offered by misguided men who know
charlatans whose sole object is to make
as much money as possible. The law passed
by the last session of the Legislature has
had most beneficial effect and has already
saved the State thousands of dollars The
fair associations have generally obeyed its
provisions by disinfecting the pens and re-
curing an affidavit of freedom from disease.
Only five out of fifty-seven fairs failed to
meet the requirements. The number of hogs
on hand Jan. l. 1898, is probably Is per cent.
greater than at the same time last year"