The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-02-27
HOG CHOLERA AND ITS PREvEN-
TON BY THE USE OF SERUM.

ported IRON Europe III SHtpMCht oi /
hogs to southern Ohio in 1883. 1t has
since spread to all sections of this
and other countries and now no state
il entirely free from it.
Many of the hog-raising states alone
lose as much as $1,O00,000 per year
from this pestilence. In Louisiana
hundreds of thousands of dollars are
lost each year from this disease.
From reports published by the Unit
ed States Department of Agriculture,
119 out of every 1000 hogs in the
United States died in 1913 from some
disease. Probably 900 of this loss
was from cholera. 1t totals for the
year a loss of $73,1OO,O0O. This loss
was enough to furnish every family in
the United States with about forty
pounds of meat. So destructive a dis
ease is surely important enough to
attract our attention.
Cause of Hog Cholera.
The specific cause of this disease is
a germ so small that with our most
powerful microscopes it cannot be de-
tected. No filter is fine enough to in
tercept its passage. 1t belongs to a
group of organisms known as the ultra
microscopic germs of which the foot
Iand-mouth disease is another example.
The blood and excretions of the hog
are capable of producing the disease,
the former being highly infectious.
Besides the specific cause Of the
disease there are numerous accessory
causes, which are comfortable by the
manager or attendant of the animals.
Improper feeding, impure drinking
water, insanitary pens, yards or houses,
and crowded sleeping quarters all tend
to render the animal more susceptible
to infectious diseases by making his
physical condition less resistant.
The time which may pass from infec-
ton until the hog shows symptoms of
the disease varies from a few days to
two weeks. Young or fat and heavily
fed hogs seem more susceptible.
There are two types of the disease,
acute and chronic In the former the
disease seems more powerful and the
animals infected die shortly after show
ing the symptoms, while with the
chronic type the animal may linger for
weeks or even months, finally dying
with an entirely emaciated body. In
some few cases the animals recover,
but some organ of the body will nc
longer be functional anil the animal
will no longer be profitable.
Symptoms of Cholera.
The beginning of the disease in the
herd is marked particularly by one OF
two hogs being sick No characteristic
symptoms mark the presence of the
disease. A few days later the disease
becomes more widespread and other
individuals are attacked In com
|paratively short time all exposed ami
mails will become infected.
Lack of appetite followed by rapid
breathing and rise in temperature
mark the first noticeable disorders. Al
lindisposition to move, or moving with
a staggering gait, showing weakness
of legs and back, are very noticeable
symptoms.
Constipation followed by diarrhes
characterize this disease. The Skin
becomes red and blotched and the tenn
perature rises to 100 degrees or ever
higher.
Post-mortem examinations are yer,
often practicable when one is not posi-
tive as to the cause of death in hi
herd. Here the most characteristic
appearances are the usually large
button-shaped ulcers on the intestine
and elsewhere and the hemorrhag'
(red) spots on the kidneys and spleen
Prevention of the Disease.
AS Is the case at all times In hand
ling a contagious disease there ar
certain sanitary measures which will
greatly reduce the losses sustained b,
poor methods. First, before the dis
ease has entered your herd but i
known to be in the community, cleal
up your pens, burn all litter, lime tn
wet places and spray pens and trough
L with some disinfecting solution to in
sure perfect cleanliness. A tonic lik
a mixture of charcoal and sulphur ma,
be administered in small doses t
cleanse the digestive tract of effet
material and aid in the publication O
the blood This only makes the ANNA
more healthy and renders him les
3 susceptible. If possible prevent tn
> passage of dogs, persons or other an
= mails from an infected area to you
!. pens. Allow nC SICK animals to
8 free on the roads or elsewhere. Thes