The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-06-19
HOG CHOLERA
o . oou a . o o . o . o /
tBy DR.. A. E. Cline, v. Sd

Hog cholera is specific septicemic
disease Of swine. 1t is contagious and
infectious and may be either acute or
chronic. The disease is characterized
by tissue hemorrhages and complica
lions Of the intestinal mucosa and,
less frequently, by hemorrhages of
the lungs.
Geographical Distribution. - The
nrst identified outbreak of hog cholera
IN the United States occurred in Ohio
in 1888. From this original center
it has spread widely and now pre-
walls more or less continuously in ev-
cry state of the Union as well as in
the surrounding countries, including
the island possessions Of the UniteI
States. The disease was positively
recognized in England in 1926. and
still prevails there. In 1896 approx
nately one-third Of the swine popula-
ton OF England died of cholera. Ths
disease was introduced into Denmark
in 1881, and spread into Sweden the
! same year. 1t also appeared in France
In 1887. Hog cholera. or a very SIM
liar disease, appeared in Germany in
1866 Prussia. Austria and Hungary
were invaded in 1895. From all re-
ports 1t is apparent that cholera pre-
walls In practically every country in
which swine are maintained.
Hog cholera was first investigated
Systematically in America in 1885, nm
der the direction Of Salmon. The dis
ease was thought, and apparently
proved at that time to be due to a
short, red-shared bacteria.
De Schweinitz and Dorset further
investigated the disease in 1903, and
the Bureau of Animal Industry has
continued its Investigations up to Thu
present time.
EXTENT = Information obtained
from various Eources indicates tina;
hog cholera mas been prevalent in
America for the past thirty or forty
years. The average annual loss in
the United States for the past four
decades probably exceeds $4,000, 900
annually, and in 1897 the losses due
to this disease alone appropriated
$lOO,OOO,0O0. During the years 1912
1913 severe epidemic of hog cholera
extended throughout the land, the
loss being excessive and for the coun-
try at large amounting to over $780,.
100000 each year. In 1913 there were
6l17S,000 swine in the United States.
of which ten to fifteen per cent died
of cholera. The losses from hog
cholera in 1912, in Iowa Nebraska.
Kansas, and Missouri exceeded $780,
COO hogs valued at s30,0O0,00O. The
losses in Iowa alone for the years
1s11-14 have exceeded $10,0O0,00o an
rually.
Hog cholera Is no doubt the most
surely fatal disease of swine in Amer
lea, and at this time it is the most i'm
portant disease economically in the
United States.
ETIOLOGY-The cause of hog
cholera is attributed to a filterable
virus. The relation of filterable xir.
us TO hog cholera was first recognized
by De Schweinitz and Dorset in 1904,
and similar investigations by Boxmer.
OF Michigan, were also concluded in
1904. Other Investigations have YER
flied the findings by De Schweint!z
and Dorset. The virus of hog cholera
occurs in the blood and therefore in
practically all the tissues of the body
OF an infected swine. One to two Gu.
bic centimeters of filtered blood Sc
rum from swine affected with hog
cholera will produce typical symp-
toms of this disease when injected
simultaneously, intramuscularly, in
traperitoneally, or intravenously into
a leathy, susceptible pig. The symp
toms become evident in from five to
seven days after the incubation.
Continued Next Weekly