Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-11-09
Keep Clean and Dlslnfect.

II is a well known fact among success
ful live stock men that it is very impor
tant to keep clean the barns, pens, ant
yards where the animals are kept. Whs
is the meaning of clean? We'll, there
are many conceptions OF cleanliness
Many farmers think II they keep theiI
barns aud yards free from manure thai
they are clean. This is true to certain
extent, for it ia important to keep Ihs
premises free from manure and othtl
refuse. Others will hold that not only
must the manure be removed, but the
walls and ceilings of the barn must be
kept free from cobwebs, dust, and the
like in order to have clean barn, and
that whitewsshing once a year is neces
sary. When the various buildings about
tie farm are kept clean, not only are
better homes provided for the stock, but
work is easier and more inviting. Being
Clean is not fad. 1t is dollar aud
cents proposition.
While cleanliness about the farm
premises is highly important and cannot
with safety be ignored, yet there are
times when disinfecting the barns and
yards is a wise and feasible practice.
When the country was first settled and
there were but few farm animals, the
necessity for disinfecting was less COM
manding. at that time 1t was not
known that bacteria, which are very
small microscopic organisms, were the
cause of the various kinds of disease.
Since the discovery Of these germs by
Pas,eur, the great French bacteriologist,
- hot
have come into use.
Itis we'll known now that most, II not
all, diseases are caused by germs.
Cattle cannot have tuberculosis unless
exposed to tubercular bacteria; nor suf-
fer with abortion, unless infected with
abortion germs; nor foot and mouth
disease, unleas they come in contact
with the bacteria which cause this dis
ease. Hogs do not have hog cholera un-
less they are exposed to the germ that
produces this disease. So it is with the
many other diseases which claim our
live stock. 1t is plain that one of the
factors in keeping live stock healthy is
to destroy the bacteria, and disinfectants
will do this.
There are various ways Of destroying
bacteria. In milk they are destroyed by
heat. Sunlight is the most universal
This is why it is impor-
tant to let plenty of sunlight into the
barns. There are gaseous and liquid
disinfectants. The gaseous disinfectants
are more searching as the gas permeates
every nook and corner of room. But
these cannot be used in barns as the
room to be disinfected must be tightly
sealed if they are to be effective. Car
bolic acid has been used to consider
able extent, but we do not advocate it as
it is expensive and poisonous and not as
effective as the coal tar disinfectsnts
which are easily mixed with water and
applied with a spray pump.
Fresh whitewash is very good disin-
fectant and it sweetens the barns and
pens and makes them look clean. Cblo-
ride of lime is also good when freshly
prepared. Then there are the numerous
products sold under proprie-
tary names, many of which are good and
generally we recommend these. They
can be obtained from responsible firms
and are put up in convenient form and
are given indicating when and
how to use.
1t is wise under most conditions to
use at least two or more kinds of disin-
fectants. 1t is cheaper and more effect
i've. Before any disinfectant is used the
should be thoroughly cleaned.
The best and quickest way to apply dis
infectants used in barns, ETC., is with a
spray pump, but brush will do II
spray pump cannot be provided. No
matter how they are applied the farmer
can we'll afford to use disinfectants in
his barns, pens, and yards, as there is
outside of cleanliness, that will
give him more assurance against diseases
of all kinds. keep clean and disinfec"
should become the motto of every live
stock man.-Hoard's Dairyman.