The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-05
Agricultural Department VIII Try
TO Change the Nature of
the Animal.
SHOWER BATHS PROPOSED.
Hogs Educated to Cleanliness Will
Be Crossed With Uncultured
Swine in Hope of Effecting
Their Regeneration.
The Republic Bureau.

\
| Washington, May 4-The Agricultural
Department, 1T is stated. is about to inaus-
urate series of experiments in the breed
ing of swine, which they hope may result
1. the eradication of many OF the objec-
| tion. advanced by scientists TO pork as
food II is on account of the filthy habits
/ of the ordinary hog. II is said, that this
domestic animal is more prone TO contract
infectious and contagious diseases than any
other.
! II the nog were clean in his customs as
the sheep, for instance. the scientists be-
lievs that the flesh would be sweeter and
purcr. and that there would be less dan
ger TO the consumer from porcine tubercu-
losis and trichina. The idea has been ad-
vanced by one of the enthusiastic authori-
ties on the culture of farm animals that
in1putation Of being naturally the dirtiest
and most degraded OF animals.
Why He WaIlows in the Mud.
In discussing the plans of the department
he said:
Il have never yet been thoroughly salts
sed that if the hog received a fair chance
it would not be clean any other do
mestic animal. Take, for instance, its we'll
Now. 1 have never been convinced that it
does it simply because it is mud. nor sim
ply because it enjoys the dirt 1t is because
the mud is cool and soft; and If there was
something else equally cool and soft. which
possessed the additional qualification of
cleanliness. the hog would. without doubt.
choose II.
II say that without doubt the hog could
ha af 81 % 81 ,lA
substance. Since the time that the hog
has become domesticated II has been per-
mitted, and even encouraged, to vallow in
filth. The primitive hog was naturally as
clean as the primitive horse. To-day the
wild hog, which has never come n contact
with mankind, is as clean IN its habits as
the abbit or the squirrel.
1T will. of course. take some time to
eradicate the inevitable effects of years of
environment that have made flthiness an
acquired hereditary trait in the hogs ma
ture. But We sanguine enough to
think that It can be done, ana every rea-
soning person should admit that the bene-
fetal result in supplying the public with
pork absolutely free from the germs of dis
ease will more than outweigh the outlay of
labor and expense to the Government
e
Of course, get a special appropriation from
Congress that will permit US to build
suitable experiment station, where the pre-
experiments will be tried on very young
animals. and. as I now think, on sucklings
Of the Poland China variety .
Shower Baths for Pigs.
These sucklings will be taken before |
fhev trna
mated by association and put into a spe- |
ciaIly prepared pen. with nothing but the |
eleanest surroundings. In the summer time |
clean, moist sand will be given them in
which to lie. They will be driven down an
shower baths. After year or two of treat
nent OF this nature we will take several Of |
the most promising of the shoats and turn
is fitted up with the conveniences to which
half regular pig pen.
III the educated porkers choose the dirt
It will be because their education has not
sufficiently progressed. A trial will have to
be given to pigs whose ancestors for two
and three generations back were brought up |
and trained to cleanliness. But when once
VIC he'S ouSSSSeeN- Al ctSeoAh5 ihiniiy VI i
swine that will of their own volition. and |
without human coercion. choose pure sur
IN place Of niire, we will feel that |
a great victory has been gained.
The next move will be to cross the breed |
with the least filthy of ordinary hogs. It is
q well-known theory Of evolution that once |
q progressive tendency becomes implanted
in the life OF a species Of animal, its deyel-
epment along that special line is more
rapid than along the beaten tracks,