Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-12-24


prepared by the United States Depart
nlent of Agriculture)
The destruction of vermin is of i'm
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
a 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
hogs about the ears. flanks, and insides
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
nat 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. 1t is much
more common and severe on young
stock than on the older animals al
though the mature animals as we'll as
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
Tere cases the mite may be found on
any part of the body The hair is stiff
ana erect, giving the pig a very I'M
thrifty appearance.
All newly purchased stock should
be examined for lice and other skin
diseases, and II any are found the hog
should De treated before he rs turned
With the rest OF the herd.
Dipping to Destroy Vermin.
To free hogs from vermin they
should be dipped two or more times at
intervals of about two weeks, prefer
ably Is to 16 days for lice. Several
clippings may be required before COM
plete eradication is accomplished Do
not fail at the same time to clean and
dislnfect thoroughly the sleeping quar-
tiers. Cresol compound CO. S. P.) may
be used for dipping and disinfecting.
For dipping, mix the proportion of one
gallon to 100. gallons of water; for dis
injecting, in the proportion of three
gallons TO 100 gallons of water. Coal
tar stock dips and nicotin stock dips
may also be used to treat hogs for lice.
For use they are diluted with water
in accordance with directions sup
piled by the manufacturers. Cresol
compound, coal-tar dips, and nicotin