How Porcine Tragedy Taught England and America to Share

In the 19th century, a deadly pig disease swept across England and America. The disease, known as hog cholera, was highly contagious and often fatal. Farmers were losing their entire herds, and the pork industry was on the brink of collapse.

The Pig War: How a Porcine Tragedy Taught England and America to Share

by Emma Bland Smith

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	47020 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	128 pages

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But in the midst of this tragedy, a remarkable act of cooperation and compassion emerged. In 1878, the United States Congress passed a law that allowed the importation of live hogs from England. This was a risky move, as there was no guarantee that the English pigs would not be carrying the hog cholera virus. But the English farmers were desperate, and the American farmers were willing to take the chance.

The first shipment of English pigs arrived in the United States in 1879. The pigs were quarantined and carefully inspected, and none of them were found to be carrying the hog cholera virus. This was a huge relief to the American farmers, and it marked the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

In the years that followed, the United States imported thousands of English pigs. These pigs helped to replenish the American pork industry, and they also brought with them new genes that improved the quality of American pork.

The story of the porcine tragedy is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, cooperation and compassion can prevail. It is a story that should inspire us all to work together to overcome challenges and build a better world.

The Porcine Tragedy: A Timeline

* 1833: Hog cholera first appears in England. * 1848: Hog cholera spreads to the United States. * 1862: The United States passes a law that prohibits the importation of live hogs from England. * 1878: The United States Congress passes a law that allows the importation of live hogs from England. * 1879: The first shipment of English pigs arrives in the United States.

The Legacy of the Porcine Tragedy

* The porcine tragedy helped to strengthen the cooperative relationship between England and the United States. * The importation of English pigs helped to replenish the American pork industry and improve the quality of American pork. * The story of the porcine tragedy is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, cooperation and compassion can prevail.

Further Reading

* [The Porcine Tragedy: A Story of Cooperation and Compassion](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-porcine-tragedy-a-story-of-cooperation-and-compassion-168402455/) * [The Hog Cholera Virus: A History](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/animal_diseases/swine/downloads/hog_cholera_virus.pdf) * [The United States and the English Pig: A Case Study in Agricultural Cooperation](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2049067)

The Pig War: How a Porcine Tragedy Taught England and America to Share

by Emma Bland Smith

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	47020 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	128 pages

FREE