Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-06-29
HOG CHOLERA AND
ITS MANY PROBLEMS.

= all other diseases and has discouI
! aged many in rearing hogs.
The disease Is extremely infec
tious. These minute organism
which cause cholera are carried abou
in large number Of ways. The!
are present in the blood OF ever!
infected hog and are thrown of IL
many ways. This infects the entire
pen. These germs may be carried
about by dogs, cats, rats, crows
blackbirds, people, water and wind
A small particle Of dust may carry
enough of these organisms to in
feet several herds of swine. Public
stock yards and railroads over which
hogs are shipped are generally In
fected and these germs are carried
by water or wind to hog pens.
All hogs may take cholera but
some are lelss susceptible than 9TH
ers. In an epidemic of cholera there
are generally few hogs only slight
ly affected while some may not be
SILK. 1t was thought for a time that
the mule footed hog was immune but
that is not substantiated. A hog
that has overcome an attack is Inn
mune.
A hog affected with cholera can
not always be cured. The best de-
Tense is strict quarantine or vacci-
nation before the hog becomes in
fected. Certain conditions tend to
favor the disease. Anything that
weakens the system of the animal
renders him more susceptible. There
fore the proper feeding and care
Of the hog are factors In the pre-
vention Of cholera. The pens should
be clean and have dry comfortable
sleeping quarters and plenty of sun
shine. 1t is well to disinfect the
pens and dip the hogs every few
weeks. A breeder of high class
hogs dipped his herd after d,scov-
ering that three of them we're sick
with cholera. The sound hogs were
moved to new quarters and no new
cases developed which may have
been due to dipping. The disease
is favored by damp, dark, filthy |
places where sunshine or fresh air
is obstructed, too exclusive corn
diet or too much green corn. The
hog requires twice as much breath
ng space for each 100 pounds of
weight as either the horse or COW.
Although a breeder may do much
o prevent cholera, the only reliable
way is to vaccinate with anti hog
holera serum. This will not cure
holera but will prevent 1t. II the
roper method Of vaccination is used
he hog will be immune to further
attacks. However, a young pig
iay outgrow this artificial immunity. I
his serum can be obtained from
he veterinary department Of the
.ansas State Agricultural College at
ie expense of production. The cost
I serum depends on the size of
ne hog to be vaccinated. For a c
ioat weighing 100 pounds the cost n
the serum will be thirty cents. It D
loud be applied by an experienced a
an who is a graduate veterinarian. g
Two methods Of vaccination are !
ling practised. One method is that d
using serum alone. This VII q
axe a hog immune for time vary 81
g from a few weeks to several 81
Onths. 1t Is generally used when
fat show hog is yacelnated and CO
on herds in which cholera Is pres 81
{ and some Of the animals having "
en- exposed for q few days. After 81
hog has been sick with cholera
three or four days vaccination
dom does any good. The dose
increased on diseased herds. In
other method both serum and Bi
blood from a hog sick with b
'lera iS used. This method Is TO
re dangerous but IT makes a hog Re
nune for bis lifetime in that Il Pc
e. him q slight attack which is MT
'rcome By the serum. This s
most satisfactory method and BE
used in q herd before they are IN,
,etsd. MI
he farmer cannot diagnose hog y
lsra and n the disease is sus- He
oned be should get an expsr- Wa
ed veterinarian as early a. poe Ne
e. Cholera usually starts with osl
IaFrhoeas ne hog win ouii eat gra
may cough. lose Ell Of bis ener- Am
and finally de. The peas BE- SKI
z verr offensive. Cftru = Sir- ert.