Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-14
The Strawpile.
Hoafi Cholera and Swine Plague.

Hoafi Cholera and Swine Plague.
| (By DR.. s. H. Ward, Secretary OF the
I Minnesota Live Stock Sanitary
Board)
| These diseases, having a great SINH
larity as to infectiousness, are both
more or less prevalent in Minnesota
during the fall months.
| Hog cholera is in all cases intro
duced into herd of hogs either by
placing an exposed or affected hoS
into the healthy herd, or by the intro
4 duction of the germs by the owner or
another person. Outbreaks of hog
cholera in Minnesota were proven by
those who investigated the matter to
have originated in hogs brought from
other states for breeding or feedlngi
! purposes.
Swine plague Investigations would
\ indicate that in many cases outbreaks
may be due to certain local conan
lions. In isolated cases 1T has peen
found that the disease would appear
lin community, one owner propaoy
having the disease among ms swine
while no other outbreaks could he
found within O radius OF many Hiiles.
However many times the disease VIII
snread as rapidly as cholera, yet IS
not so malignant or deadly. affected
animals living for weeks. In cnolefa
death ensues very rapidly
Where the diseases originated none
seem to know and by many they are
looked upon as Of recent origin. Inc
first outbreak occurred in Ohio IN
1879 spreading from there to otner
states.
The disease Is we'll known In the
older countries and in all probability
was imported. The losses yearly are
a serious menace to our farmers, ana
! investigations have been carried on
| for wears by the department OF aerl-
| culture looking to the cause ana rem
edy. These investigators have re-
s,,lted in establishing one fact, and
very important one: that the germ IS
| invisible under the most powerful
| miscroscope, consequently 1T may be
wears before any definite or specihc
remedy in the way of a vaccine or
| antitoxin will be discovered. There
are many other invisible germs Whlch
cause very serious losses to the hu-
man and animal race, such as scarlet
fever and hydrophobia, and 1t would
seem the smaller these parasites are,
the more dangerous in, their effect
| upon health. lna
The causative factor OF swine plague
has been established, being due to
a germ 1-15,00O Of an inch in length
and belongs to that family of germs
| which cause certain forms Of blood
poisoning.
The main differences between the
two diseases are that in hog cholera
the intestines are affected, and in
swine plague the lungs are affected.
Both diseases are in all probability
taken up in the food and water. The
discharges Of the body are undoubted
ly alive with the germs, as such
has been proven to be contagious
It is therefore an easy matter for
owners, dogs, birds, wagons, covered
fences, and anything to which dirt
and saliva may adhere to, to carry the
disease. For instance, one man may
visit and look at his neighbours sick
hogs He may or may not go into
the pen, but he does, however, walk
upon ground that is contaminated;
small particles stick to his shoes. He
returns home and in the course Of the
day goes into his own hog yards, and
the germs are deposited there and Of
course grow rapidly. II these germs
are deposited where hogs do not come
in contact with them, no damage re-
suits.
j A grain of wheat, If dropped on ia
v,rable soil sprouts, natures and in
the course of time ripens, and large
number Of grains are dropped which
re; ., duce themselves in g short time
s.. with tie germs t'ev is,ll on fa,or.
able. soil, maturing and reproducing
| themselves
| The one thing to remember is that
the life OF the germ is Of shorter dur
alton than that of grain of wheat,
and that millions of germs under fav-
orable circumstances will develop in
very short time. This is demonstrated
in making cider, grape, rhubarb or
currant wine. When the material first
| begins to work or ferment the process
| is slow. AS the yeast germs begin to
multiply and the germs become more
numerous, the process Of fermentation
becomes remarkably active. We cannot
see these yeast germs with the naked
eye Nevertheless they are there and
any intelligent man knows that these
agents are at work So with diseases,
| the germs are small, too small to be
seen with the naked eye, but we know
| they are working. The fever tells us
! that, and the rash on the body tells US