The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-09-26

DIVINE plague is so like hog cholera
that it is impracticable to distinguish
between the two.
Swine plague is generally regarded
as lung affection and hog cholera as
disease of the intestines Since the
general measure for controlling hog
cholera are the same as for controll-
ing swine plague, the two diseases
may be discussed as one. Most inves-
tigators regard the two diseases as be-
ing cause by the same invisible germ
Hog Cholera
Aside from the general fact that
hog cholera is caused by minute
invisible germ, there are minor fac
tors which may render a herd more
susceptible to the disease
They are: A change of feed, gen
eral unthriftiness, insanitary condi-
tons in the hog lots. damp or cold
sleeping quarters, dirty drinking and
feeding troughs. Of course, these
items do not directly cause hog chol-
era, but they lower the vitality of the
hogs so that they become easily in
fected when exposed to the disease
producing germs.
How the Germ Reaches a Herd
The germ is always present in the
bodies OF affected hogs and is always
found in the excretions from their
bodies so that the pens, yards and
everything coming in contact with
excretions is contaminated 1t may
get in herd of healthy hogs many
ways. Sick hogs may escape from a
neighboring herd. New stock show
ing no symptoms may bring it. Keep
new stock in a pen by them
selves for a while until you know alb
solutely that there is no disease
among them. Purchasing hogs that
have apparently recovered from hog
cholera. Healthy hogs going over
the same route as sick animals have
every opportunity of becoming infect
ed. Since the organism is found in
the urine and caeces of sick hogs, it is
an easy matter for an attendant OF
sick hogs to carry it to neighborine
herd on his feet Stock buyers who
visit all the hoglots in the country
can easily carry it in this manner
Crows, hawks, buzzards, sparrows
dogs, rabbits, etc. may easily spread
the disease. The stream that runs
through an infected farm may carry
it to a healthy herd. Everything
that comes in contact with the sick
hogs becomes contaminated with the
germs. Remember that the ways for
spreading the disease are legion and
that the means of eradication are few
the keynote of them all is cleanliness
written in big letters.
Symptoms.-The symptoms vary in
different forms of the disease. Briefly
they are in the acute form as follows
First symptoms-Loss of appetite.
vomiting inflammation of membranes
of the eyes and mating together of
the eyelids. The animals may be
constipated, but diarroea generally
sets in within short time and the
discharge from the bowels is of a
grayish color or streaked with blood,
odor offensive. Diarroea may be abb
sent in some cases. Temperature in
creases, sometime coughing, purplish
blotches are often found on the skin
in the region of the flank and the ABB.
domen and also on the ears. The ami
NAL gets weak, lies hidden in the lit
ter and will rise only when forced tc
do so. After rising it may walk
usually swaying or Keeling behind; i
will go only short distance, the'
stop for fifteen or twenty minutes
Death occurs in from four to seve'
days. In the subacute and chroni
forms the hog may linger from seve
to Fl days. In order to be sure of tn
disease, a post mortem examinatio
should be made.
Post-Mortem Appearance-The TO
lowing tables shows the organs whic
suspectedshould be examined whe
hog cholera is suspected. A descriI
ton of the appearance of the organ
in cases of cholera is given after eac
organ. 1t must be remembered tn;
all of these post-mortem appearance
may not be found in one hog. Thos
in the skin, large intestin
small intestine. spleen, kidneys an
lungs are most diagnostic.
Skin.-Red or purple discoloratio
along belly and between the ham
Ulcers may appear and the skin crac
and ears slough.
Large ntestines-External congo!
| ton and internal congestion wit
! henorrhagic spots in the acut
form and ulcers in the chronic form