The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-12-19


One Of the greatest sources Of profit
to the farmer of the corn belt is the
fattening of hogs. Corn converted
into pork on the land of the farmer
Is generally believed to be the most
profitable corn he can raise But
there is one serious drawback to this
method OF converting corn into an
extra profit, and this ia the hog chol.
era. For years the agricultural de.
partments-of the nation and the states
have been patiently and persistently
conducting elaborate experiments In
the prevention and the cure of this
plague. The results accomplished have
in many instances been most encour-
aging and the results of the expert.
inonts have been placed before the
farmers of the country through bull
letins and other avenues of publica-
tion. AS a result of this educative
work the farmers have grasped the
idea that hog cholera cannot only be
prevented, but also cured. This con-
viction is all the groundwork the
"cholera.cure" fakir needs for his
business. All the careful and quail
fed work Of honest and scientific spe-
cialists in this branch of agriculture
is perverted into preparation for the
success of the swindler when he finds
man whose knowledge of facts is
practically restricted to the convic-
,tion that this swine plague is not be-
yond the reach Of scientific treatment.
Consequently Swine disease special.
ists' swarm like buzzards in every big
hog raising district where the cholera
obtains start-and there are few, II
any, localities largely given to the
raising of swine where, sooner or
later this plague does not appear.
This Information as to where the dis.
case is prevalent is easily obtainable
by the hog-cure swindlers from q sys-
tematic reading of the farm journals
and agricultural papers. One of the
first claims generally put forward by
the swine specialist when he comes
In contact with farmer whose herd
is afflicted with the cholera is that
his remedy has the Endorsement of
the agricultural department. He sells
the remedy at a high price and IL the
plague is general in the locality he
finds 1t easy to depart with hundreds
of dollars in his pocket as a result of
few days work
or course some hogs which are
given the remedy recover--in spite of
it-and such cases are made the most
of in testimonials.
Analysis shows that the remedies
are usually compounded after some in.
genious and worthless formula as the
following:
"Coakoil-one gallon.
"Saltpeter--two pounds.
"Sulphur--two pounds.
"Assafetida-two pounds.
Tobacco stems--two pounds.
boil the last four ingredients in
water, and then add the coal oil.
Drench each sick hog with q pint OF
the liquor"
Some omit the coal oil--perhaps by
way Of variety. The result Is the
same, for the hogs really affected by
the cholera die, and the Swine spe.
cialist" has the farmers money.
Some of the serums being devised
may prove effective, at least In max
ing the campaign sooner or later to be
made to eradicate hog cholera from
the country, as the federal and state
governments are now eradicating the
cattle tick" and the Texas fever.
But the thousand and one inter-
nal remedies are quackery, and when
a farmer uses a serum he should get 1t
only Of reputable concerns or OF public
departments.
The feeding or finishing" of cattle
Is another profitable speciality of the
corn belt farmer To take rough
steer from the pasture or range and
put him In fat and sleek condition In
the minimum of time and the mini.
mum of expense for feed Is a very
vital problem to the feeding" farmer.
So II is to the nation at large, and
therefore the research departments of
agriculture have given much effort to
the practical solution of that problem.
The balanced ration" idea was once
widely exploited by the scientists,
though now not regarded so important
as formerly. Latterly reasonably well
balanced rations of those common
grains and rough and green forage
foods have been shown to be the real
profitable feeding stuffs. And nothing
Is clearer In American feeding expert.
ments than that adding SO called stock
foods with their minimuW of well nigh
useless minimum amount OF condi.
ments, fiavoring matter and medicines
Is practically and absolutely a general
humbug. But his faith in science
makes the farmer ready to accept the
blandishments of the travelling stock
food purveyor. He has no more trou-
BILE TO find the occasional farmer who
will testify that this particular stock
food worked wonders In his herd or
fiocks. 1t is on the same basis as
testimonials from people who, having
failed to die or even to continue sick
when taking a given patent medicine.
are willing to have their testimony
published. And In not a few cases
false testimonials are used.
The nurVqyOr of faka cattla e,o.,.