The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1913-10-03
Hog Cholera,
Its Symptoms
andPre reventative

Deen Ine greatest mendnce FACING
the swine industry. Were itnot for
this disease. hog raising would be
one of the most profitable branches
of the live stock industry. Next to
tuberculosis in hogs more hogs have
been condemned for hog cholera
under federal inspection than for
any rother cause. However, this
does not give any idea fair idea of
the loss from hog cholera, because
it is onlya few such affected hogs
that ever live to reachsthe abattoir,
while the tuberculous hogs may not
show evidence of tuberculosis until
slaughter. 1t maybe estimated
that IS per cent of all the losses
from death or lick of proper devel-
opment in hogs, are produced by
hog cholera.
The specific cause of hog cholera
is germ so small that it can not be
seen by use of microscope. The
The organisms pass through the
finest filters and cannot be artificial
ly crowd in a laboratory. The blood
and excretions, especially the urine
and feces of a hog sick with cholera
are capable of producing the disease
in a susceptible hog. The virus
(blocd of sick hog) is highly in
fectious.
The accessory causes of hog chol-
era are numerous and include all
conditions that weaken the censti-
tuition and natural resistance to di-
sease, such as improper feeding,
which includes unbalanced rations,
over feeding, insufficient food, ir-
ritating food-as garbage and fer
mented slops are likely to be-and
insanitary feeding troughs and
floors: impure drinking water. A
hog requires clean water just as
much as any other animal Stagna-
mt, warm and dirty water in which
the hog bathes should not be given
him to drink. This may be con-
servation of water but of health;
insufficient protection from the heat
in summer and from cold and damp
ness during the winter brings about
disorders that may render hog
susceptible to cholera; insanitary
conditions of yards, houses and far
rowing pens. Many forms of bac-
terial life develop in insanitary en-
vironment. Lice and worms are
menance to the health of the hog
Crowding hogs in sleeping quarters
causes unhealthy conditions. Hog
cholera cannot be produced except
through infection with the specific
virus, but the accessory causes in
creases the susceptibility to this
virus.
Although the symptoms of hog
cholera vary in different outbreaks
and in different individuals in the
same herd, due no doubt to varying
conditions of feeding, watering,
handling, climate, season, housing,
natural resistance, and mixed in
fections, there are few symptoms
of which the hog raiser may be
suspicious and LESSONS of which he
may be certain.
The most common symptoms are
loss of appetite, lassitude, and
disposition to lie with the head un-
der the litter. There is no desire to
follow the herd in feeding. The
back may be arched and the bristles
erected. Accompanying this there
may be cough and discharge
from the eyes and nose. In dusty
pens, or if the hog has access to
muddy water, this discharge from
the eyes becomes hardened, COM
pletly closing the eyes, and causing
an irritation which often results in
loss of sight. During this time the
bodily temperature has risen; con-
stipation, of diarrhoea, usually of
yellowish color, is present, and the
hog has difficulty in supporting
himself upon his hind legs, swaying
from side to side as he attempts to
walk. His head and ears hang down
exhibiting the general appearance
of little energy.
Continued Next Week.
Now is the time for fall house
cleaning. mako II easv with a West