The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-04-28
HOG CHOLERA HERE AGAIN.

Hog cholera has broken out again
at several different points in the
Boise valley at least five cases hav-
ing been found in the past two or
three weeks. Fortunately, in all
OF these recent cases the disease has
been of mild type that has not
caused serious losses in any OF the
herds affected and has apparently
been checked With proper obser-
vance of quarantine regulations on
the part.o the owners of these herds
as well as of their neighbors. the
trouble should not spread.
Hog cholera is carried by such ag-
ents 40 birds. especially magpies and
birds OF similar character, dogs, coy
otes. horses, men, water streams, etc.
Probably men Themselves. through
their visits to infected hog pens, the
exchange OF livestock. borrowing Of
farm implements. etc, are more re-
sponsible than any one agency for
The spread of the disease.
A number of outbreaks OF cholera
have been traced TO the more or less
common practice of allowing hogs
70 tat the carcasses OF other animals
which have died from any cause.
Such carcasses may not In themsel-
yes be injurious to hogs but when
cholera is in the neighborhood, even
within several miles, they are likely
10 become infected by the visits of
dogs, coyotes or birds. Where such
a rpactiee. which is questionable at
best. II followed, the remains OF car
casses should be buried or burned at
once.
Cholera Is more easily prevented
than cured, although prevention is
sometimes impossible with any ordi-
means. Keeping up the vitality Of
hogs by Kidding them of worms and
lice, and by proper feeding and care
makes them more resistant to dis
ease but not necessarily immune to II
and II virulent infection gets into
q herd the only known means OF
checking II Is the prompt use of anti
hog,chOlera serum, and unless this is
used in time. and literally II may not
be effective.
Some hogs die every year from
causes other than cholera. During
1916 out of 1876 herds inspected
where hogs had died or we're sick,
only 40 cases of cholera we're found.
There Is no other common contag-
ious disease In the Boise valley, how
ever and every suspicious case should
be regarded as a possible case of
cholera and diagnosed as soon as
possible. A positive diagnosis of
cholera can generally be made only
by post-mortem examination which
means that II may be necessary TO
kill an animal for this purpose I'M
less one has recently died Even post
niortem examinations will not al
ways show whether or not cholera is
present. but II Is always best to make
such examinations In order to detect
the presence of the disease at the
earliest possible moment
Through reluctance to sacrifice a
sick pig worth less than nothing.
some men will run the risk OF losing
a large part OF their herds, cases of
the kind having occurred In the
Boise valley.
QudihhlihS 10 u uGttbSdTy part Oh
hog cholera control and should all
ways be .enforced unless voluntarily
observed. In the past. men have at
tempted to avoid quarantine by con-
cealing the fact that cholera was
present on their farms, but while a
few short sighted persons still dis
play this tendency. the practice is
becoming less and less noticeable,
The utmost effort that can be made
to prevent a general outbreak of
cholera this year may not be sufii-
cient TO accomplish that result. and
without any effort In that direction
no outbreak may occur. but in view
OF the history of the disease, as long
as cholera exists In the Boise valley
the effort is eminently worth while.
II. A. IRELAND,
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