American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-03-28
HOG CHOLERA in HAMMOCK
Farmers Warned to Be Watchful-
Heavy Losses Sustained In Past
Years.

within Nh0 PooN AC
been an outbreak of hog cholera In
the northern part of Bannock county.
The control of this outbreak Will de-
pend upon the hearty cooperation OF
The farmers with DR.. Henderson and
the state livestock sanitary board.
Although old hogs may contract the
disease, the shoats at weaving time
or up to 40 or so pounds, are most
susceptible. There are two general
forms of hog cholera, acute and
chronic. In the acute form, the hogs
die within a few hours, or at the most
within four or five days after con-
tracing the disease. The diseased
shoat in the nest appears to be de-
jected and chilling. If compelled to
stir, it shows a webbing or partial
paralysis of the hind quarters, tucked
up in flank, back arched, kinks haV-
ing gone out of tail, ears dropping
and eyelids generally glued together.
On light colored hogs, purplish-red
blotches, usually appear back OF the
ears and on the under part of the
body between the legs. If the tenn
perature is taken, it is found some
times to be as high as 107 to 109 de-
grees.
In the chronic form, hogs may live
for several weeks after having con-
tracted the disease. Although their
appetite remains good, they seeming
ly do not digest the food eaten, and
they soon appear unthrifty, tucked
up in flank, back arched, skin thick,
wrinkly and possibly scaly. Regard
less of the amount and ind of feed
given, the animal does not grow, but
appears to become smaller and thin
ner and finally dies. This form is
the most dangerous, since the entire
herd may become infected before the
real condition is suspected.
There are many variations between
the acute and the chronic form, which
cannot be recognized except by thor
ough examination after death. II
cholera infection is suspected isolate
the infected animal, and Immediately
consult a competent veterinarian. II
one is not available, and hope of re.
coVery of the animal is given up, pro
coed as follows: Kill and bleed tht
animal; open the carcass the full
length of the body and examine thu
lungs for qualification or liver-lik'
formations, dark and red spots owe
surface of lungs, kidneys, bladder
and base of heart. These spots ma,
be as large as those on a turkey egg
or very much smaller. Look for III
GERS on the inner lining of the stom
ach and of the blind gut (Caecum)
If these symptoms are found, yol
may be sure that you have hog chol
era with which to contend. The car
cass should always be burned, no
only because the state law require
this, but because an outbreak ma,
occur several years later, if bones o
buried are dug up. Get /
touch with a deputy state v%eterinar
ian, or your county agent, and sc
that the remainder of the herd is in
oculated Immediately with anti-ho
cholera serum, as there is no othe
method of controlling this diseas'
After the disease has abated, ii is vel
necessary that the premises be thol
oughly cleaned and then disinfecte'
When hog choleda exists in you
community, it is imperative to kee
your hogs on your W premises, pei
nit no one from an infected area
enter your hog lots without first tho
oughly disinfecting their shoes.
Hog cholera may be spread in mar
ways, viz: by man, birds, dogs,
the streams, in fact in any way !
which a small amount of dirt Is ca
ried to susceptible hogs.
Hog cholera in the United Stat
causes a heavier loss than any 9th,
single disease. The annual loss
about $40, 900 200. In 1897 the dea
rate for cholera was 140 per thou
and, in 1914 it was 118 per thousan
while this figure was reduced in 10
to AZ per thousand. These encou
ging results have been secured tn
the perfection of an anti-hog chole
serum by the Bureau of Animal
! dustry of the Department of Agric'
ture.
Farmers of Idaho thought for ma
in years that hog cholera was confin
is to the corr belt, and that the Sc
is climate, and elevation would foreN
I. keep this disease from this section
w the country. So prevalent and dee
or ly rooted was this belief, that the d
IL case gained considerable Roadway
at fore its presence vas recognized.
,ly In 1913, rs per cent OF all the h'
to in Twin Falls county died from /
cholera. In one school district all
more than Sc per cent were lost. T
n tremendous loss aroused the farm
to action and in June 1914, thror
their efforts, the Bureau of Anil
Industry selected Idaho as one OF
fifteen stations in the United Sta
for hog cholera control. Under
direction of DIR. w. A. Sullivan,
government hog cholera expert,
operating with the farmers, state
stock sanitary board and federal 6
eminent, hog cholera in two years
came an almost unknown factor
Twin Falls county.
In the short space of six mon
in 1916, as a result of hog chol'
in the upper Snake river valley, tn
was a direct loss of 100000. ]
1uno p,aaaIfafnIu nlaand I'M