Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-10-22
SAYS HOG CHOLERA
IS NOT RESPONSIBLE
DIR. Il. Il. Wegner Discusses Preya-
lent Swine Diseases and Says
Condition Is Not Entirely
Local
(By Prof. E. E. Wegner, Vet. Sci
ence Dept, w. s. CO.

Considerable sickness has existed
in local swine herds during the past
few months, and a summary of facts
IN this connection seems in order.
There seems to be popular opinion
that hog cholera is responsible for
the recent losses, but careful examin-
alton of hogs that have died in many
herds proves that this is not the
cause of the trouble.
The disease is rather widely spread
in this locality and several local
herds are suffering, but similar con-
dtions reported from distant points
prove that the condition is not a
local one.
The common serious infectious dis
eases of swine are three in number:
hog cholera, swine plague (many
mes existing together) and contag-
icus swine pneumonia. The former
diseases are better known and more
generally discussed than the latter
and in some respects are more SER
ious, though contagious swine pneu-
serious outbreaks, especially among
young pigs, which die very suddenly.
Older animals may lose condition
and therefore their value.
Contagious pneumonia is especi-
ally serious in young herds, taking
all of the young pigs in many out
breaks, and in especially serious at
tacks old animals also may die. Gen
orally, though, large percentage of
middle aged and old animals recover
after period of several days or
weeks. Hog cholera is no respector
OF old or young, taking entire herds
without exception.
From observation of the present
trouble the following facts point to
swine pneumonia: In herd of mid
die aged animals which had been pro-
tected from hog cholera by the serum
treatment, the disease occurred in a
mild form. All the amin ais recovered
however, after sickness of from %
days to two weeks. In another case
small herd of middle aged and
young animals became diseased.
Several young ones died, but the old
or animals all recovered. Again,
blood from a sick animal injected
into healthy hog from another herd
caused mild case of pneumonia and
not hog cholera. The animal one
OF middle age, recovered. Careful
postmortem examination of many an
lmals from various suffering herds
showed contagious pneumonia in
nearly all cases. Some showed hog
cholera, however, but nearly all were
typical pneumonia cases, with no
suggestion of hog cholera.
These facts prove the general
cause of loss to be contagious pneu-
monia and not hog cholera. In any
outbreak, however, one should know
positively what disease is prevailing
as hog cholera is by no means I'M
known in this locality.
The principal symptoms of can
tagious pneumonia are: Young an
imals more susceptible than old; dis
ease is more apt to be fatal in young
than in old; coughing is a constant
symptom, coupled som etimes with
dlarrhoea; sometimes with paralysis
Of the hind extremities, and occa-
sionally ulcers appear in the mouth
and throat; young pigs may die IN
few hours; older ones may have a
chronic form and recover; sick ones
refuse their food, leave the herd ano
attempt to hide by crawling into the
grass or under the straw.
In hog cholera all ages sicken and
usually die, red spots appear on the
skin, and an i'll smelling diarrhoea is
quite constant.
The one positive method OF hislh'
gushing these diseases Is by autopsy
Of the bodies of animals that have
died, and many times it is desirable
to destroy sick ones for this purpose
Hog cholera carcasses show small
blood spots in the internal organs
usually the heart, lining OF cnest
lymph glands, kidneys, and skin
frequently Redeemed. The insides o.
the bones is very dark in color De
cause of the changed condition OF the
blood which is responsible for th'
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