The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-12-04
Western Type Of Hog
Cholera is Explained

to come in from southern Idaho, espe.
cially in the Twin Falls country, abou
disease affecting the hogs. 1t ra
pidly assumed an epidemic form and
Hast summer the loss was tremendous.
A conservative estimate would be
$4,000 worth of loss in that part of
the state alone. AS the disease did
not act like the corn belt type Of
cholera, and instead of causing death
in few hours or few days at the
most, even old breeders were mysti.
fled. The course of the disease was
traced down to an Importation of pure
bred hogs from the middle west, and
the disease diagnosed as a modified
form of hog cholera This was clearly
shown in case in the northern part
OF the state, where a breeder had
shipped in three apparently healthy
hogs from Iowa. These animals were
vaccinated before shipping, but one
was noticed to act dumpish several
weeks after it's arrival here. Later,
it died, and in few days one third Of
the bunch were coughing, and soon
were dying at the rate of four to
ten day. The whole bunch was
vaccinated, and over 80 per cent of
the vaccinated ones lived and are
apparently healthy today. Whethe,
the change in the climate, altitude o,
feed causes this chronic form with
more or less lung symptoms is a de.
batable question. The writer has
seen the disease in Ohio, Iowa, Texas
and in other parts of the country, but
this form found in Idaho or Washing.
ton is certainly unlike the trouble
found in the middle west. Another
outbreak in Idaho was traced to the
feeding of chopped bone and meat
scraps from butcher shops, and it is
barely possible the Infection may still
have been lurking in the bone mar
row, for the large majority of hams
and shoulders handled by these shops
came from the middle west. From
these foci Of infection the disease
spreads by every known manner.
People, animals, lice, running water,
dust, birds, may be some Of the ex
ample* mentioned. The disease may
be found on one ranch, and the next
outbreak may be 10 miles away. It is
the most unsatisfactory and trouble.
some disease to manage, and requires,
above all things, the conscientious co
operation of all the people.
The Typical Symptoms
The typical symptoms are: Loss Of
appetite. pigs act dumpish, burrow
lnder the straw, short hacking cough,
very thirsty (due to the high fever),
1t first constipation, followed with
liarrhoea, difficult respiration, red to
purple spots on abdomen, more and
more get sick until several die each
lay. At first the rancher thinks 1t
ung worms or pneumonia, or a bad
;old. Later, he thinks of cholera. Tho
reveals a variety of dis.
'ased tissues. Some of the lungs may
'e dark purplish and of the consist.
'ncy of liver, in others the bowels are
covered with ulcers and the kidneys
ire dotted with turkey-egg spots
.alled "petechiae." The bone marrow
n the backbones is often dark blue
md like mucilage. Some hogs seem to I
lie Of suffocation, others of blood
'oison. The real fact remains, how
vor. that they die. and how to pre-
ent this concerns the rancher more
han long-winded discussions on the ,
ause, symptoms or manner of death.
Where to Get Help
Each state has a state veterinarian,
9ho is located in the capital OF his
state, and it is his duty to {
ook after and advise ranchers how i,
0 avoid loss. For the northeast their :
ames and addresses are as follows:
Idaho-Dr. v. c. White, Boise. f
Washington DR.. Fl. T. Graves, I
olympia. a
Oregon-Dr. w. H. Lyle, Salem.
California--Dr. Charles Keane, Sac
amento.
Montana-Dr. w. J. Butler, Helena.
These state veterinarians have APP {
ointed deputy state veterinarians, 9
'ho investigate live stock diseases in 6
leir respective parts of the state.
The best procedure for rancher to :
AXE in case he suspects the disease !
n his ranch is to consult his local 9
who will advise him I
no is his nearest deputy. and will Il
lso notify the state veterinarian. In
10 meantime, Immediately separate
&c apparently healthy from the dis
ased and the infected yards. Run !.
lese through trough containing four .