Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-01-02
WESTERN HOG CHOLERA

Sporadic outbreaks OF diseases
among swine resembling cholera
have been prevalent in the Northwest
for number of years, but it is with
in the last three years that hog chol-
era has become serious menace TO
the swine industry, and has attracted
u1biic attention. In California the
state legislature of 1911 appropri-
aled $4,000 for the establishment
of a serum plant, which is located at
the University of California. In the
past year the Idaho state legislature
appropriated $4,000 for plant
which is located at the University of
Idaho. Serious outbreaks have been
reported this year in Idaho, Oregon
and Utah, while small areas in Wash
ington and Montana are reported in
fected, but they have not become
widespread as yet.
In 1888 hog cholera was first
noticed in Ohio, and from there it
has spread rapidly over the whole
country. AS long ago as 1880 more
than 20 per cent of the hogs raised
in the corn belt are said to have died,
for in those days little was known
about preventive measures, and the
swine breeder trusted to luck to get
his hogs to market. A conservative
estimate is that from $60,000,000 to
$3.50, 100000 worth of hogs died last
year in the middle western states
alone. No one can estimate the total
loss, for an outbreak means loss of
pigs from abortion, stunted growth,
costs of disinfection and vaccination.
Another thing, it discourages swine
raising, for the breeder who loses
fruits of years of toll in a two week s
siege of cholera is apt to turn to
some other vocation in life.
Cholera is neither a respecter Of
breed, age, size, condition or sanitary
surroundings. By the latter is meant
the we'll cared for hogs die Just as
quickly as do the uncared for, pro-
yided both are infected. No cause of
the disease has yet been discovered
or no treatment found successful
after the disease once attacks a hog
When an experienced swine breeder
notices some of his pigs refusing to
eat, lying around in an apa hetic con-
dition, and with all the curl gone out
Of their tails, he hastily bids fare
we'll to Lue invalid hogs by assassi-
mating them at once and burning the
carcasses. To burn these easy, he
digs trench about seven feet long,
10 inches deep and foot wide, then
another trench about four feet, max
ing the two in the shape of a cross.
He puts in some kindling at the in
tersection, over this brush, lays the
carcass on this, makes a slash down
the belly throws in a quart of coal
OIL and starts the fire.
This arrangement causes a draft
like stove and the body is soon re-
duced to ashes.
He telephones for his nearest dep
uty state veterinarian to come to his
ranch; divides his herd into small
lunches, runs them through a good
dlslnfecting dip, and the apparently
healthy ones are vaccinated. The
premises are thoroughly disinfected;
the dogs tied up, and the persons at
tending to the healthy hogs do not
venture near the sick ones. He does
not raise howl because some of his,
Vacclnated hogs die. for he knows
that if they are infected before they
were vaccinated, neither serum nor
prayer will avail much A hog raiser
is termed experienced" after he has
lost all of his hogs in trying to treat
them with so-called sure cures" and
has to borrow some of his Wifes
chicken money" to start in anew.
old Mother Experience gives a very
snort term in hog colera-ology" at
hiON II Cihh HGll-dLIGl1utu
school, but her tuition rates are
rather high.
Much confusion has existed and
does still exist in the Northwestern
states as to what the present out
breaks among hogs are. The writer
mas Investigated outbreaks on
ranches where pigs were dying, and a
number of causes were found. In
many cases concentrated food with
lack OF exercise caused a paralysis of
tHe headquarters. In others, damp
quarters caused rheumatism. Several
outbreaks came from the feeding of
swirl with I've, soap, coffee grounds,
vi winch was decOmposed. Ergot OF
rye or wheat causes sows to abort,
ana In other cases, where the soil is
impregnated with limesalts, often the
Pigs are born mummified. But the
present outbreaks, extending all over
tue Northwest, are of a more uniform
Vpe' resembling each other, and the