The Green Forest tribune., 1910-02-04
PREVENT DISEASE IN HOGS
Some Timely Suggestions by J. E. Sammons Before Texas Swine
 Breeders Association.

MT. J. E. Summons in an address be- fore the Texas Swine Breeders asso- citation held recently at Sherman, Tex, gave some timely suggestions on feed ing, pasturing and treatment of hogs to prevent disease. Among other things he said
 l find that rye, barley and oats, sown early in the fall make good graz ing for winter and spring; then a few acres of sorghum for early sum- mer and fall. I have had most sat isfactory results with milo maize and Kaflr corn. I usually plant in rows, and when seed begin maturing, throw to the hogs each day by the wagon load; they relish the stalk as well as the seed, and there is very little left except the blades. I plant several acres of Spanish goobers each year, and find that it is much better than so many acres of corn. My conclu- sions are that by the system I am fol lowing 1 raise fat hogs for about three cents per pound. My land is solid Johnson grass, and 1 have been compelled to seek substitutes for corn as far as possible.
 To carry so to 100 head of hogs through the year, and to fatten from 50 to 70 head for home consumption, all corn is not to be thought of Have a Johnson grass meadow to produce the corn on.
 To keep a herd of hogs in healthy condition, I know of nothing better than charcoal, wood ashes and salt; for vermin and lice I have gone back to crude oil, applied with t1ower-pot sprinkler-it is cheap, and certain remedy.
 For treating hog cholera, and swine plague, bicarbonate of potash is used with most satisfactory results. A dose of this salt is one teaspoonful for each hog once a day. My plan is to dis solve it in hot water and put in drink ing water for the hogs that are sick, and to put into the slop for the eX- posed herd Be sure and give plenty, as no harm can result. Discontinue after six doses have been given. It is a powerful alkali, and readily assimi- lates in the system, destroying the microbes upon which the swine plaques depend The careful hog raiser can know whaever his hogs are infested with, and can check the dis ease before he has any losses. Loose ness of the bowels and dropping about the hog lot should put him on guard as to the swine plaques.
 I am not so certain about cholera, as there is some difference in the symptoms. Lime should be sprinkled about the pens and runways as it is the most convenient vehicle to thor oughly disinfect with. Within 15 months 1 have had two outbreaks among my hogs, some of them cough ing like they had eaten cotton seed; others getting up, refusing to eat As soon as treatment was given they got we'll With some of the worst, or sickest, their ears dropped off and the hair slipped from their hips and shoulders. These hogs, as conse- quence, were well marked, and when butchered a few days ago their lungs were apparently normal and healthy, as was also their liver and kidneys All this was very gratifying; the hogs had taken on flesh well, and were well lined with lard.
 It is claimed by standard authors on pathology, that in the process of micro-Organisms, or micrObe growth, hcf ovnrntnd or formed, which is baneful to it's own microbes, and when this substance reaches a certain proportion it de- stroys it own microbes if the infested animal lives that long. This looks reasonable, for we know that the yeast fungus, when placed in an infusion of malt, at a suitable temperature. evolves rapidly, until alcohol is formed to a certain per cent; the alcohol then retards the further growth of the yeast fungus and the fermentation is de- stroyed. These facts are of the ut most importance in the treatment of disease when the pathagenic infectious disease like swine plague would con sist in bringing about in the system as soon as possible something ana logous to that of their own spontane- ous product, which in sufficient quan- tity proves inimical to their own ex- istence. Bicarbonate of potash and other remedies in it's class does this, in producing the microbe growth be- fore the life of the hog is destroyed. IDEAL PLACE TO RAISE HOGS