Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-19
HOW to t. diagnose Hog Cholera

| Experience has shown that hog
| cholera may be controlled and pre-
vented in large measure through
| the use of serum. 1t is believed that
| it can ultimately be eradicated when
| sufficient time has elapsed to prop
! eyly educate our farmers relative
| to this disease and the means which
could be used to combat it. The first
thing to understand is the symp-
toms. duration and autopsy find
ings as evidenced in connection with
slaughter tests We direct and urge
the attention of our readers, there
fore, particularly to the following
data. 1t represents the best avail
able information on, this subject. 1t
has been prepared by the veterinary
division of the Georgia State Col
Ieae of Agriculture.
Although the symptoms of hog
cholera vary in different outbreaks
aldv-tn differsat Individuals in the
same lherd; due&3tott doubt to vary
ing conditions of feeding, watering,
handling. climate, season, housing,
natural resistance, and mixed in
fectfons. there are a few symptoms
OF which the hog raiser may be
suspicious and LESSONS III which he
may be certain.
The first indication of cholera is
symptoms are: FEVER, (tempeTa-
ture 1913 to. 1O8 degrees Fahrenheit) !;
RED OR Purple SPOTS on the
skin. especially on belly and in
side of thighs; SORE EYES, first
a redness of the membranes and
later the formation of gummy
exudate. which tends to glue the
AND EARS. large open sores being
found on the limbs and cruStS
forming on the ears; ROUGH COAT.
the hair becoming erect and dry and
losing it's natural gloss; WEAK
NESS, loss OF strength bringing on
a sta ggering gait, the sick pig sway
ing from side to side as it walks
EVACUATION, rapid losing of flesh
RAPID breathing, the lungs us
uaIly becoming involved in the dis
ease and respiration increasing in
all feverish conditions: CONSTR
tive in the early stages of cholera;
DIARRHEA. looseness of the bow
els and the passage of offensive
fecai material indicating that the
intestineS are diseased; 1SOLA-
TION.' the pig sick of cholera us
rest of the herd and spending a
great deal of time in the. nest or
in some out-of-the-wa corner
The acute form of cholera may ter
inmate fatally in from five to fif-
teen days after infections takes
place, Ill LIE lOEHl -LtIC IlOS
may linger a month. or moro and
a small percentage Of these cases
recover but their value is greatly
reG'A%ad, An attack of cholera con-
fers immunity against the disease
for the remainder of the hog S
life. but as rule about 80 per cent
Of infected herds die.
AS there are other diseased con-
ditions which may bring on, symp-
toms similar. to those Of cholera,
it is well that the above evidence
he confirmed by examination of the
Body tissues and internal organs.
Lungs. In these organs may be
found dark red solid areas, usually
at the anterior portion, and minute
red spots (petechia) scattered here
and there over the outer surfaces.
Heart. In many cases no changes
are to be seen in the heart. When
affected red spots (ecchymoses) are
found on its surface and the heart
sack (pericardium) contains a straw
colored fluid.
Liver. In some cases apparently
healthy. In other cases purplisn
areas (congestiop) may be seen.
Whitened areas usually indicate the
presence of parasites, (WormS).
Spleen or Melt, In acute cases the
spleen is often found in normal con-
dition, but in cases of long standing,
minute hemorrhages exist beneath
LIS StIpIo 0lSI l6dF1l6 III tNSHGl tII Gd5
or blackened borders. Open. sores
(ulcers) are occasionally found on
the surface. .--.,-
| Kidney.YJ After removal of the
fibrous covering (capsule) minute
hemorrhages (petechia) are found.
The presence of many petechia giTa
somewhat the appearance of a turkey
egg. Retention cysts may occasion
ally be found filed with urine -
Stomach: Reddened areas and Ill
GERS may be found on the lining and
hemorrl1ages (ecchymoses) on the
1ntestlnes. The principal LESSONS
are in. the region Of the ileocaecal
valve 1.-THE termination Of the small
intestine in the blind gut). In this
location ulcers OF all sizes, from pin.
head to an inch in diameter, are
characteristic of, cholera. These al
GERS are covered by a yellow or
greenish crust and have a; peculiar
button-like appearance. On the out
er surface hemorrhage spots are
sometimes found. ~.
Peritoneutn. The inner membrane