Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-12-19
a HEALTHY BUNCH OF YOUNG PoRkERs.

A HEALTHY BUNCH
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
The destruction Of vermin is Of inn
portance in the production of swine.
Practically all swine are infested to a
certain degree with the common hog
louise, and unless the animals are freed
from this pest it is apt to retard their
growth. Although lice may not be the
direct cause Of death, still their pres
ence lowers the vitality of the hog and
predisposes him to attack from infec-
tious diseases. One Of the first req
uisites in preventing an outbreak of
cholera is to put the hogs in as perfect
physical condition as possible, and it
Is also obvious that the animals should
be in perfect health in order to fatten
rapidly and economically.
Common Swine Pests.
Lice are common pests among swine,
and vigorous and persistent treatment
Is required to eradicate them. The
farmer should frequently examine his
of the legs to see if they are lousy.
The lice may be readily seen travelling
among the bristles, particularly in the
parts just mentioned. The eggs, or
"nits," are small white oval bodies at
tached to the bristles. Dipping does
not as rule destroy the vitality of
these eggs. Swine should be dipped
repeatedly in order to kill the lice that
hatch out Of the eggs after the previ-
Gus dipping. These lice are blood
sucking parasites, and by biting the
hog and sucking blood they cause a
great deal Of skin irritation. Further
more, they act as drain on the vital
ity of the hog, through the loss of blood
which they abstract. When lousy the
hog is usually restless and rubs on
posts and other convenient objects.
The coat looks rough and harsh. This
pest is transmitted from one animal to
another by direct contact, or by con-
tact with infected bedding or quarters.
Mango, one of the most common OF
skin diseases, is. caused by a mite
which feeds on the skin. It is much
more common and severe on young
stock than on the older animals, al
though the mature animals as well as
the young are likely to become affected
If the disease is introduced into the
herd. Mango is characterized by the
formation of crusty scabs on the, face
and neck and along the back, and in Sc
we're cases the mite may be found or
any part of the body. The hair is stiff
and erect, giving the pig a very I'm
thrifty appearance.
All newly purchased stock should
be examined for lice and other ski
diseases, and if any are found the hol
should be treated before he is turned
with the rest of the herd.
Dipping to Destroy Vermin.
To free hogs from vermin the,
should be dipped two or more times q
intervals of about two weeks, prefer
ably Is to 16 days for lice. Severa
dippings may be required before com
plete eradication is accomplished. D.
not fail at the same time to clean an,
disinfect thoroughly the sleeping quar-
tiers. Cresol compound %. S. P.) ma
be used for dipping and disinfectins
For dipping, mix the proportion of on
gallon to 100 gallons of water; for dis
injecting, in the proportion Of tire
gallons to 100 gallons Of water. Goa
tar stock dips and nicotin stock dip
may also be used to treat hogs for lice
For use they are diluted with waite
in accordance with directions SUI
piled by the manufacturers. Crese
compound, coal-tar dips, and nicoti
. dips may be purchased at the dru
store.
For mango crude petroleum is NOR
effective than the ordinary stock dip
1t is also destructive to lice. The We
may be filled with the oil or half-fille
with water before the oil is added.
one dipping does not effect cure tn
treatment should be repeated in or
or two weeks.
Use Of Crude Petroleum.
Owing to the great variation in tt
composition of crude petroleum fro
different localities and the greater il
!, furious effects of some crude oils tina
1 Of others, crude petroleum, if Of a kin
3 not used before, should be tested on
; few animals before extensive treatmel
is undertaken. Animals treated wit
crude petroleum should be provide
!. with plenty of shade and water. The
4 should not be dipped in oil in very co
Il Or very warm waathar One of III
:. best varieties of oil for use on liz
il stock is Beaumont crude petroleum
. and oils of similar composition a
more likely to be satisfactory thu
: those which vary widely from it. II
specifications are as follows: Speci1