The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-02-14
Nine Out Of Ten "sick" Hogs Have
Hoo Cholera.

The Department Of Agriculture is
in receipt of frequent inquiries con-
corning methods for Distinguishing
hog cholera from other swine dis
eases. The specialists in hog-choIefa
investigations answer these inquiries
as follows:
Although at first thought this mat
ter Of diagnosis appears to be OF
Drimc importance, III reality it is
not so important or 81 difficult as It
seems. 1t is estimated that at
least 90 per cent Of all deaths OF
hogs from disease il the United
States are caused by hog choIera.
Therefore, in the case Of any fatal
outbreak the chances are about nine
10 ore the cause is hog cholera. 1t IS
true that other infections may and
do frequently cOmplicate outbreaks
of hog cholera, but ii such cases the
germ of hog cholera is the primary
cause Of the disease; and if 1890, n
htake care Of the germ of hog = ia
Pnhe pig ,s will usn ';,nys qvero0 the
. The symptoms exhibited byke hogs
sick of hog cholera are nottLuffi-
GENTLY distinct from those prog.
| by other maladies, so that posllrs,,
| diagnosis can be made only through
a careful consideration Of num-
| Der of other factors in connection
with the symptoms. From practl-
cal standpoint the important thing
is to recognize hog cholera as soon
as possible after its appearance ID
a herd in order that anti-hog cnOi-
era serum may be applied before the
disease progresses too far. Good
serum may be depended upon 70
protect well hogs, and even to cure a
large percentage Of those IN the
earliest stages Of the disease, pus
it will not be Of much avail when
used upon hogs that are already Wis
IDLY sick.
; The following suggestions to farm
ers are offered as an aid to the ear
ly recognition of hog cholera IN
= herd:
/. Keep posted concerning the
condition and health OF hogs on
other farms in your ne1ghbornood
Sick hogs on neighboring farm are
positive menace, for the germs OF
: hog cholera are easily carried on
; the feet of men or animals.
2 Look over your herd regularly
in order that any sick hogs may
be promptly discovered.
5 3. If any hogs in the herd are
found to be "off feed Or appear in
anywise sick, separate them imme'
diately from the remainder Of the
herd and keep them and the main
} herd under close observation daily
If there is a tendency for the dis
ease to spread in the herd, the
trouble is probably hog cholera. Thi:
diagnosis may be confirmed by kill
ing one of the sick animals and ex
, aiming the organs i'll the manne'
described in Farmers Bulletin 379.
4. When the first symptoms o
! sickness are observed, an immediate
:: change Of feed sometimes correct
the trouble. This is particularly tru
Q of swill-fed hogs.
Il 5. If there is any tendency TO
! the disease to spread in the herd
r do not temporize, but immediatel,
treat the herd with serum from tn
g state college or state live stock san
: itary board. Prompt administrator
r of the serum is essential to success.
o 6. Remember that hog choler
kills millions of hogs where othe
diseases kill thousands. Dismis
from your mind all thought of sue
diseases as lung plague = '.infet
tious pneumonia, pig typhoid,
ETC., for these are generally merel
fanciful designations given to no
cholera by uniformed men.