The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1912-04-05
PREVENTING Hoe.cHoLERA.
Agricultural College Veterinarian
Tells Symptoms and Treatment
to Give.

Oregon Agricultural College, Cor
Wallis. Since many letters from var
ious parts of the state have been re-
ceived by the Experiment Station at
the Oregon Agricultural College re
garding disease closely resembling
Ihog-cholera in its symptoms, veterin-
arian B. w. Hollis has thought it well
to give the farmers and stockmen of
the state the symptoms of hog-chol-
era, with suggestions as to preven-
tion and general sanitation, that they
may more intelligently combat the
onslaught of the disease in their
herds
"At the beginning it is well to
bear in mind the fact that when once
an animal is infected with hog-choi-
era and the symptoms of the disease
appear, it is almost useless to treat
the animal, because recoveries are
very rare" says DR.. Hollis. "Occa-
sionally, however, an animal will re-
cover, but is usually so stunted that
| it is worthless ON the farm. 1t will
not contract the disease a second
time
! "Hogcholera usually starts with a
diarrheoa. The pigs stop feeding,
may have a cough, and are sluggish
| for several days. They lose all en-
ergy. gradually become weaker, and
die. The older hogs act in the same
way, except that they do not usually
grow so thin before death. Some
times the diarrheoa is preceded by
constipation which may last for a
few days. The discharges are usu-
ally very offensive. Frequently
discharge comes from the eyes, re-
sembling pus, and this may be sticky
enough to gum the lids together
in many outbreaks one or two
hogs may not feel well for several
days. and before the herdsman is
aware of the fact the whole herd
may be infected and number may
die every day. Some may show
symptoms of a severe diarrheoa, red
ness of the skin of the abdomen or
nanks. and of patches about the
snout or ears, while others may
show but few of these symptoms be-
fore death. Hog-cholera is most
prevalent in the fall and early win
ter. During the cold weather the
cases, as rule, become more
chronic, do not die SO suddenly, and
la greater percentage recover.
"Since this is a contagious dis
} ease. the germs of hog-cholera must
be carried into a herd before the
hogs can contract the disease. the
: germs are present in the blood ano
tissues of diseases animals, and are
thrown out through the eXcretions o.
the body, especially the urin ant
feces. In this way the whole yard
and everything in the yard in which
the hogs are kept becomes contami
mated with the germs The smallest
particle of dirt, so small that 1t can
not be seen, will carry enough germs
to infect several herds of healthy
hogs. 1t is thus apparent that nc
one should be allowed to leave the
vicinity OF the pens without first
thoroughly disinfecting his shoes, OF
putting on other non-infected ones
Dogs. cats, rats, and crows and
other birds-in fact, every living
thing should be kept away from
the infected pens as far as possible
after beieng exposed to the dis
ease hog may become sick with
cholera from six to fourteen days
later, but it may sometimes be much
longer. Upon consideration of the
conditions favoring the disease, and
J the manner in which the infection
takes place, it will be seen that the
!, feeding and care of hogs have much
to do with the prevention of the
: cholera. Clean, dry pens, regular
and proper feeding, plenty of sun
shine, the pens cleaned and disin
: fected regularly and the hogs them
selves dipped every few weeks, all
help in keeping up their vitality and
in this way warding off troubles OF
: all kinds.
After shipping a hog it should be
dipped as soon as removed from the
crate, and kept away from all Others
for several weeks. 1t should then
: be dipped again before being allowed
to come in contact with the rest OF
the herd. If at any time a hog
shows signs of sickness it should
be removed from the herd at once
and kept by itself until well.
"All straw, eobs and litter should
} be removed for disinfectiof, and If
cholera is present, it should be
burned and strong solution of some
good coal-tar dip or crude carbolic
acid, about one part of the dip to
twenty of water, should be used on
all woodwork and floors of the pens.
Slaked lime should be scattered over
the ground and floors of the pens
every few days. This will help to
keep them clean"