Hogs have at times been known to have practically all of the diseases
common to other domestic animals. However, in spite of unsanitary
surroundings and manner of life, these diseases are very rare, and (in
the United States) when a hog gets sick it probably has hog cholera.
Hog Cholera
There are two forms of hog cholera, the acute, and the chronic: however,
since the only difference of importance is the length of time the
disease takes to kill the hog, it is not worth while to try to decide
which form it is.
SYMPTOMS.—The hog has fever; appears dull and sleepy; lies down and does
not want to rise or move about; the eyes are red and bloodshot, with a
discharge which often glues the eyelids together; and a watery diarrhea.
TREATMENT.—There is no known cure for hog cholera; prevention is the
only thing.
In this respect the serum gotten up by the U. S. Department of
Agriculture has done more than anything else to eradicate the disease.
There are two methods of inoculating the hog, the single and the double.
In the double method the anti-toxin is injected into the hog and also a
quantity of the disease germs, this produces a lasting immunity.
In the single method the anti-toxin alone is used, this only produces a
transient immunity unless the hog is soon after exposed to the disease,
in which case the immunity becomes lasting.
The single method should be used where cholera has already broken out in
a herd, to protect the animals which have not yet acquired the disease;
in all other cases the double method should be used.
A farmer should not attempt to give the serum unless he has had
considerable experience with it and seen competent people properly
administer it; otherwise call in a Veterinarian, his charges will be
less than the value of the hogs that would otherwise be lost.