About 50 Cases Reported, and in Some Instances Almost

Entire Herds Were Wiped Out.

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TIMELY ADVICE GIVEN

BY THE COUNTY AGENT

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Hog Raisers Should Be

Keenly on Lookout for First Symptoms of the Dread Disease.

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During the past two weeks there has been a serious outbreak of hog cholera in the vicinity of Springfield. Some 50 cases have been reported, but most of these were noticed in time, so that, by proper vaccination, most of the pigs could be saved. In some instances, where vaccination was neglected, almost the entire herds were wiped out.

Symptoms of Disease.

When cholera first appears in a herd, the hogs do not all become sick at once, but, on the contrary, only one or two will refuse to come up and eat with the herd. The rest of the herd may remain apparently well for several days when others are likely to become affected in about the same way as those first attacked. As the disease progresses, the sick hogs become gaunt or tucked in the flank, and have a weak, staggering gait, the weakness being most marked in the hind legs.

Some other symptoms may be a cough, eyes inflamed with whitish discharge and constipation followed by diarrhea. As the disease reaches its height, red or purplish blotches appear on the skin on various surfaces of the body.

Spreads Very Rapidly.

Some of the symptoms mentioned may be present in other diseases, but one must remember that cholera spreads very rapidly through the herd, and no time should be lost in calling a veterinarian to diagnose the disease and administer proper treatment. It the disease is cholera, heavy losses can be averted by prompt vaccination.

Vaccination Effective.

Vaccination is often given a so-called “black eye,” when a man waits until most of his hogs are sick before vaccinating them. Even at that, sorting healthy hogs from the sick ones by taking temperatures will avoid much loss.

The easiest way to avoid hog cholera is to administer the double treatment before the hogs are sick. This will prevent all trouble and worry.

Brown County Journal,

Aug. 21, 1925

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