Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-11-18
EXPERT TELLS HOW
TO MAINTAIN THE
HEALTH Of HOGS

Hog cholera is the worst OF all dis
eases among swine. 1t is admitted.
however, losses may come from other
sources
With the frequent heavy rains, wet
ground and cool nights of September
this year, l went TO small hog pas
ture one morning TO find pig OF
very fine litter ailing. / at once
suspicioned cholera, and believed the
pig was taking the dreaded disease.
One of the heaviest rains OF the sea-
son had fallen the night previous. and
the SOW and her litter had been pro-
tected only by light summer shelter.
Their bed. and the surrounding
ground were wet and cold. The pig
was standing by it's mother, but list
less and apparently weak and suffer
ing. / caught it and started to
carry it to the house or treatment
i'm isolation. 1t did not squeal
at first but attempted to squeal
before L reached the house with it.
| Is queal resembled the sound
made by a child with a cold and
sore throat. 1t was a baby with a bad
cold; that was all. SO we took the
pig and bathed and rubbed its throat
and chest with a mixture Of lard and
turpentine, warmed il, and put ii to
bed in warm box with a dry straw
bed. After it had taken a few hours
rest il was up and as hungry as a
pig, drinking freely Of milk placed
before ii and eating new corn. Greas-
ing it's body and giving it dry, warm
bed had broken it's cold and set ii on
steady feet. Within two days it was
sound and well.
1t goes without saying that hogs
and pigs are subject to colds and a
long list Of minor ailments the same
as other animals and human beings.
Many Of these ailments can be pre-
vented and cured with simple means
i'm the hands of one who understands
animals. Good, clean shelters should
always be provided for hogs of all
ages and conditions. In warm wealth
er the animals will seek these shelters
to keep cool, and they will stay in
them when it rains and whenever ma
ture directs them. No animal will do
the best when exposed to wet and
storms, even in summer.
Last year our nearest neighbor lost
almost his entire large herd of hogs
with cholera. Many were sick and
a few had died before we knew any
thing about it. The man seemed to
think il was a disgrace to have
cholera on his farm, hence he kept
it quiet as long as he could. His
boys had visited our place during the
time, and our boys had visited his
place. the dog following, as is usual
with boys, / was afraid that the boys
and dogs had carried enough cholera
germs on their feet TO infect the whole
farm, and l felt sure that our hogs
would soon contract the disease. I'm
mediately we disinfected all the
grounds about the barn and lots, Civ
ing the hog houses and spaces where
the hogs fed and stopped a double
dose of disinfectants, scattering air
slaked lime freely on all damp places
where the hogs ate and drank. Bed
ding in all the hog houses was heav-
lily disinfected and oiled, the oil to
kill lice. AS a result of these pre-
cautionary measures we had no hogs
to become affected with the disease in
the least. If any germs were carried
to the place, the disinfecting killed
them.
1t seems to me as a matter of
common reasoning that keeping the
hog premises clean. and keeping the
animals clean and free from lice are
the best means Of preventing cholera
and other contagious diseases. Pre-
ventive measures in any case are bet
ter than a cure.
/ am convinced that feeding "A
variety to hogs and pigs aids in keep
ing them well and vigorous. / al
nj a N glOnS
believing that this mineral is a need
full food and tonic for swine. FIRE.
quently I've is fed in small amounts
with their slops, serving as a tonic
and vermifuge. Charcoal ashes and
salt should be fed to hogs often to
discourage worms and to give the
animals needed mineral foods. Keep
ing the hog clean inside and outside
gives it chances for health and great
resistance TO disease. 1t is import
ant to keep hogs free from lice, as
il has been proved that lice carry
germs Of disease, cholera among
them. We have found that oiling the
bedding is one Of the easiest ways to
kill hog lice. Kerosene or crude oil
may be used.
This summer / visited farmer,
WHO was ldNll6 Ills IlOSS iltclNtu Aoi
cholera. The hogs were in a lot con-
nected with the barns and stables in
manure 10 to IA inches deep. The
treatment may save some of his hogs,
but the manure will hold millions of
germs to be scattered over his farm
and to be carried by brooks and other
ways to half a dozen or more neigh
boring farms. 1t is no wonder that
whole neighborhoods and townships
are wiped out with cholera every year
not even the licensed veterinarians
treating this mans hogs spoke Of the
filthy condition Of the hog lots, and
the possibility of scattering cholera
all over the farm with the hundred
loads or more OF manure that would
be hauled out later in the season. Hog
cholera will forever be a great menace
to farmers till farmers learn what ami
NAL sanitation means. IL seems that
some never will learn.
When a farmer finds that his hogs
have the cholera, IL is too late to
think of or administer preventive
measures. If he wants to save part