The Farmington times., 1916-08-11
Distinction and Hog Cholera


Publicity is an important aid in the
prevention and control of hog cholera.
It is the duty of every swineraiser to
prevent in every way he can the spread
of the disease from his own premises,
if the disease should attack his herd
The owners of adjoining farms should
be notified of the danger, in order that
they may take all the precautions pos
sible against the disease. The sim
pie precaution Of removing herd to
another part of the farm may not on
ly prevent losses in a neighbor's herd
but prevent the formation of a new
focus Of infection for the further
spread of the disease. A neighbor
may have a lot of fattening hogs that
are almost raadv for the market, and
prompt notification of the danger may
save ...n nu..ureus of dollars by show
ing him the advisability of marketing
few days earlier, or by removing
them to safer quarters, in the case of
his breeding hogs, and vaccinating
them, if that seems advisable.
In the past many farmers neglected
this matter of notification of neigh
bors, although the law prescribes that
it shall be done. The spirit of coop
Grafton that is developing among
farmers to help one another is rapidly
correcting this matter. The notifying
of the veterinary department of the
College of Agriculture of Missouri, or
the local county agent, that hog chol-
era serum is needed for the control
of an outbreak will bring a response
from that department with sufficient
serum for the purpose, and such in
struction and official aid as lie in the
province of that department. The
new $4,000 serum laboratory at the
Missouri college will enable the de-
partment promptly to meet every
proper demand for serum. In the
event of the infraction of laws relat-
ing to the disposal of hog cholear car
cases, or when services requiring the
application Of official guarantees or
veterinary police measures are neces-
sary, the State veterinarian should be
notified, as it is the function and duty
of that officer and his deputies to in
vestigate and prosecute such infrac-
tions. Or the prosecuting attorney of
the county may be notified.
illegal and dangerous practices or
negligence should be exhausted by
farmers and officials before resorting
to drastic measures. Our experience
with the plan we have in operation
shows that resort to law is rarely nee
essary.
One of the most important matters
for farmers to consider in the work of
preventing and eradicating hog chol-
era is disinfection. Precautionary
measures, in the way of frequent
cleanup of the feedlots and hoghouses
together with their proper disinfec-
tion, are advisable, especially when
cholera is prevalent in the district.
The destruction of the seeds of the di-
sease (the virus or germs of hog chol-
era) is essential to success. The old
est and most efficient way of detroy-
ing disease germs is by fire; it is es-
pecially recommended for the destruc-
ton of hog cholera infection. The car
cases Of hogs that have died of chol-
era are particularly dangerous as di-
sease producers, and should be de-
stroyed by fire. 1t is obligatory under
the law to burn all hogs that have died
of any disease. The law presumes
that they are capable of producing
outbreaks of some contagious disease.
The old law that permitted the burial
of hog carcasses was repealed by our
Legislature two years ago. Not only
should the carcasses of hogs be burn
ed, but the carcasses of dead animals
of all kinds should be burned, since
they attract sinfection-carriers, like
dogs and buzzards, that may have fed
upon carcass of hog that died OF
cholera on a distant farm.
The destruction Of carcasses of hogs
by fire is not difficult, it is easier than
to bury them. The essential thing is
to have good underdraught; this can
be secured by scooping out a shallow
trench and placing across it few bars
of scrap iron to hold up the carcass
Turn the belly of the hog down. Ar
old iron wheel or a discarded iron har-
row frame will answer the purpose
A small amount Of wood and kindling
put under the carcass, and little ker-
osene poured over it is all the fuel that
is needed. Several longitudinal cuts
should be made through the skin and
fat, and the belly and chest cavities
should be opened, so as to expose the
internal organs to the heat. The fat
in the carcass adds fuel to the flame,
Fire, however, cannot be applied in
all circumstances, as in the case Of
infected buildings, and the grounds Of
barnyards and feeding pens. Chem
ical disinfectants, therefore, have an
important place. Among these, eau
site lime has the highest value, for
practical purposes, in the destruction
Of hog cholera infection. 1t is cheap
and easily applied, and when used free
" is very effective. The lime should
be purchased in the barrel, in the
form Of the unslacked burnt lime, and
should be used freshly air-slacked,
The head of the barrel can be removed
and the lime rock enptied on dry
place nrdee shelter, then sprinsled
s. III gs.sl water to start the slack