Milford chronicle., 1920-08-13
HOG CHOLERA

BY DR.. c. c. Palmer, Department OF
BacteriOlogy and Veterinary Science
Delaware College:
One year ago hog cholera was
widely spread throughout New Castle
County especially in the northern
part. The outbreak was first report
ed in the vicinity of Hockessin and
from this center rapidly spread south
ward, involving the entire northern
end of the county. Few farms escap-
ed the ravages of this disease and on
many farms the entire hog crop was
lost. Many farmers failed to re-
cOgnize the disease or to take steps
to prevent cholera, until their herds
were seriously infected, with the re-
suit that many hogs were sacrificed
This year the disease has again
made its appearance in the vicinity
of Hockessin and every endeayor
should be made to avoid the losses OF
last year. To aid the hog raisers in
preventing these losses the State
Legislature has appropriated $25,0OO
for the purchase of hog cholera SER
um. This serum is furnished owners
free of charge, the only expense TO
the owner is the cost of administer
ing the serum.
When to Vaccinate
There is no longer any doubt as to
the value of hog cholera vaccination.
If the hogs are properly vaccinated
before the disease appears in herd
the disease can be prevented and hogs
doubly vaccinated will be protected
against hog cholera for life
1t would hardly be advisable to
vaccinate every hog in the state un-
less cholera was very generally wide
spread. Swine owners shoul cooper
ate with the state and their neigh
bors in this subject of hog cholera
control When cholera appears upon
farm the owner should report the
matter at once to the proper authori-
ties and advise his neighbOrs in or
der that all hogs surrounding farms
may be protected against the disease
by vaccination. For cholera to break
out on ones farm is no disgrace. The
disease plays no favOrite, one unVac-
cnated herd is just as susceptible as
another. no herd breed of hogs is i'm
mune. Cholera is spread in such a
wide variety of ways that no one can
accurately tell when the disease will
appear. OF the various farms in a
community all stand an equal chance
of being the first places infected.
/ The hog owner on whose farm the
disease first appears is indeed unfor-
tunate as the disease may gain con-
siderable headway before it is recOg-
nized and the longer the hogs are
permitted to 90 without vaccination
/ the greater will be the percentage of
deaths from cholera. But such a
farmer owes something to his COM
munity. He should at once make
known the presence of the disease
in order that hogs on neighboring
farms may be promptly vaccinated
before the disease appears among
them. Remember that vaccination will
prevent the disease but is of little
value in hogs showing marked symp-
1 toms of cholera, and to be effective
the serum must be given early before
I the hogs become sick.
Early Diagnosis Important
/ For the above reasons an early
diagnosis is important. When one or
more hogs become sick the first thing
/ to do is to separate the sick hogs
I from the well ones. lace the sick hogs
I in separate pen and carefully watch
all hogs. If more hogs become sick
| do not hesitate to take steps to learn
/ the cause of the sickness. Many own
/ ers fear cholera to such an extent
/ that when their hogs become sick
they think that by not believing the
/ disease is cholera that it will not be
] cholera and that the sick hogs will
soon be well or the disease will
check itself. Cholera does not behave
in this fashion, it rapidly spreads
throughout the herd and the disease
is soon carried to neighbOring farms.
1t is therefore important to recognize
the disease early and take steps to
control it.
When one hog dies and one or sew
eral others appear sick lose no time
in finding out the cause of death.
| When it comes TO determining the
cause of death endeavor to have some
one make an examination who knows
swine diseases. Your neighbor will
no doubt be willing to help and ad-
wise you, but remember his knowledge
of swine diseases may be as limited
as your own. Call an expert such as
/ your local veterinarian or place the
pig in a bag or box and bring the
dead animal to the Veterinary De-
partment at Delaware College, whore
/ post mortem examination will be
made free of charge.
/ Post MOrtem Examination Necessary
1t is very difficult and in fact i'm
possible to look at a sick or dead hog
and know the animal has cholera.
| The symptoms of the disease may
vary and may or may not be sug-
! gestive of cholera. A positive dia-
| gnOsis can be made only by careful
post mortem examination. When one
or several hogs become sick and the
under side of the body and inside OF
the upper part of the legs become red
] in patches onecan strongly suspicion
cholera, but such suspicious should be
confirmed by careful post mortem
examination.
To aid in the control and eradica-
tiOn of this disease the Veterinary
Department at Delaware College will
examine any hogs brought to the
College. Even if you do not think
the disease is cholera it is the safest
plan to make certain by having the
animal examined.
Yaccinate Early
After getting a report from your
local veterinarian. government expert
on hog cholera or your State College
that your hogs have cholera, employ
your local veterinarian, provided h'
is a licensed veterinarian. to vacci
nate your pigs at once.
Serum and virus is furnished fret
by the state provided the owner EN-
ploys an accredited veterinarian t
administer the treatment. Your loca