The Tomahawk., 1921-12-01
UNITED ACTION TO STAMP
OUT HOG CHOLERA
Successful Eradication Of Disease Dc
ponds on Thorough Cooperation
With Federal and State
Authorities.

(Prepared by Office Of PUBLICATIONS
University Farm. St. PAUL.
Hog cholera is prevalent in many
districts in Minnesota again, and fire.
quent appeals for diagnoses and ad
vice have been received this fall by
staffmen Of the division of veterinary
medicine at University Farm. Heavy
losses have been reported from several
localities in the state.
DR.. H. C. H. Kernkamp, assistant
professor of veterinary medicine in the
university, has investigated the situa'
ton in many districts. Hog cholera
has been so persistent and wide spread
in recent years, that talk Of eradicat-
ing it seems rather far-fetched by
many hog growers. DR.. Kernkamp
and those associated with him do not
despair believing that the honest and
whole hearted cooperation Of the fed
eral and state authorities, the veteri-
marian, the county agent and the hog
raiser himself will accomplish won
ders in the direction of eradication.
Controlling the Disease.
zone of the most important steps
in the control Of hog cholera is the
early diagnosis or recognition OF the
disease" says DR.. Kernkamp. "A
correct diagnosis is imperative. AS
soon as you notice any of the pigs to
appear sick, a veterinarian should be
called and with him rest the respon-
sibility of a proper diagnosis and the
method of procedure to follow. If an
ti-hog cholera serum were to be used
on swine suffering from some disease
other than hog cholera, the results
would be discouraging.
''In outbreaks of hog cholera, anti
hog cholera serum can not be used too
soon. Attention is called to the fact
that serum is not cure, but it may be
given in large doses to swine in the
early stages of this disease. It should
be remembered that if only few Of
the hogs are saved, they will pay for
the serum used.
SANITARY measures are equally as
important in the control of this dis
ease as is the use of serum. In the
first place all sick swine should be
removed from the herd and isolated In
a separate pen or enclosure. These
animals are extremely dangerous In
the herd, since they are the source OF
greatest infection and are active
spreaders of the disease. All dead car
casses should be removed from the
pens or pastures and disposed of by
burning or deep burial.
"The hog houses should be thor
oughly cleaned and disinfected. To
do good job requires lot of effort,
but the cost in dollars and cents will
be more than compensated. All straw,
litter, etc., should be taken out and
burned or plowed down in a field that
will not be used for hog pasture for at
least two years. It is important to get
all the filth out Of the corners and
cracks and also the dried accumula'
lions from the walls, troughs, gates,
etc. After manual cleaning has been
done, then apply disinfectant. The
feeding troughs and floors should be
washed clean and then scalded and ex'
posed to direct sunlight as long as pos
sible Drinking fountains should be
treated in like manner. The litter
and muck in the pens and runWays
should be- picked up and hauled away.
This will allow the sun rays to reach
the surfaces. The sun is one of ma
lures most powerful disinfectants.
Disinfected pens should be allowed to
dry thoroughly before fresh bedding
and hogs are again placed in them.
"Dogs, cats, crows, hawks, buzzards,
pigeons, birds and even flies are
agents which will spread hog cholera.
It is very difficult and next to impos-
sible to control all Of these agencies.
One may, however, by observing the
sanitary and control measures men,
toned before, reduce to minimum
the danger from such sources