The citizen., 1919-01-30
HOG CHOLERA

cholera. III undoubtedly Cduses
greater loss among hogs than any
other disease. Hogs are subject tc
attacks of cholera, but IL is especial
ly serious in sections of the country
where hogs are fod practically
nothing but corn. This is because
the vitality of the hog. as well a.
its body, is not properly developed
by the use Of corn alone, and, con-
sequently, il is unable to resist at
tacks of cholera. In addition to i'm
proper feeding, any other condition
which lowers the hogs vitality
such as dirty drinking water
insanitary surroundings, presence OF
worms or lice, etc, will make the
animal lie resistant TO cholera and
other diseases as WELL
The disease is caused by an ex-
: ceedingly small germ, one so small,
in fact, that il cannot be seen with
a microscope. These germs can be
carried from sick hogs TO well hogs
in many different ways. The fol-
lowing are the principal methods
of trasmission of the disease:
4. Visiting.-Owners of we'll hogs
visit farms where hogs are sick with
cholera and carry the germs home
on their shoes, horses feet and
wagon wheels. Owners of cholera
hogs carry the germs TO neighboring
farms in like manner. Stock buy
ers and others who visit different
farms carry cholera germs from
farm TO farm.
2. Exchange of help.-When help
is exchanged in a neighborhood at
threshing and other times. it is a
common thing for cholera germs to
be carried from farm to farm by the
workers.
3. Streams. - Creeks and rivers
often become polluted and carry the
germs to hogs on farms farther
down the stream.
4. Buzzards, Dogs and Pigeons. =
These animals feed on carcases OF
cholera hogs and infected yards. and
then carry the germs to other farms.
5. Harbored on the Premises. -
Unless the hog house and lot are
thoroughly disinfected, following an
outbreak of cholera on farm. the
germs may live and later cause a
second outbreak. Likewise, filthy
ponds and hog wallows, litter and
rubbish may harbor the infection.
All should be cleaned up, and the
litter and rubbish burned.
6. New Stock.-New stock may be
infected when brought home and
thus introduce hog cholera among
the well hogs. Always keep newly
purchased stock separated from all
other hogs for three or four weeks.
This will give time for the disease
to develop. should the germs be
present, and prevent spread through
the entire herd.
There are two distinct forms of
hog cholera, viz:-Acute and Chronic.
The acute form is the more common
of the two. symptoms of this are
fever, loss Of appetite, depressed
appearance, weakness, staggering
gait, constipation or diarrhOea.
thumps, labored breathing and con-
vulsions. Death may occur within
very short time. Very few hogs
recover from this form Of cholera.
Symptoms Of chronic cholera, in
addition to those Of the acute form,
are coughing, arched beck and
drawn up flank, red or purplish
color of skin on the lower part Of
the abdomen, formation of sores and
ulcers on the skin and shedding OF
the hair.
AS indicated above, it is exceed /,
ingly important that hogs be kept
in thrifty, vigorous condition, but,
even if this is done. every effort
must be made to avoid getting hog
infected on the farm or in
the herd. Proper feeding, good
housing, sanitation, sufficient ex-
ercise and extreme care in avoiding
infection must all be practiced.
There are two forms Of vaccina-
tiOn by means Of which hogs can be I
made immune 10 cholera. The
"single method" consists of injecting
hog cholera serum into the body |
with a hypOdermic syringe. This
renders the animal resistant or i'm
mune to cholera for, perhaps not
longer than three or four weeks.
The double method" consists Of in
jecting both blood from a cholera
hog and serum. This method makes
the hog immune for life. Vaccina~
tion is used primarily as a prevent
alive, but hogs which are actually |
sick with cholera may be treated by
vaccination with the double meth