The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-27
COLLAPSE OF TIE hog DOCTOR.
He Experimental with His Theories
and Destroyed All the Porkers.
Fro1, the Neto York World

From the Neto ORR World.
LINCOLN, NEB., Dec f0-The farmers
and pork-raisers of this section of the state
are about as mad as they can be and still
keep within bounds of the law. They were
the happiest set of ruralists up to few
weeks ago that could be found anywhere,
and now they are berating themselves for
being made fools of by learned hog doc
tor. This erudite physician is Dr. Bill
lings, the man who sprang from a nonentity
to the biggest figure in the hog-raising
regions the moment he stepped forward
and proclaimed TO the terrified farmers that
he had scheme that would kill hog cholera
finally and forever. Thousands flocked to
him and offered him all the money he could
use, and his fame and fortune seemed des-
tined to grow without limit 1t was not
thought possible that the erudition of the
gentleman could be wholly built upon pre-
sumption and pretense.
But the sequel proves that the Illusions Of
hope are as an empty bauble. Banking
upon the wisdom of the experimeuter-
the-expense-of-the-far nd-stock-la iser,
some time back, the board of regents appro-
priated $500 for him aud his aides upon
which to commence experimental work. 1t
did not prove a difficult task for him to find
willing victims Herepresented to farmers
in different localities that he had found q
sure cure for hog cholera. Indeed, he
guaranteed to cure and prevent cholera in
every case where hogs were
in a healthy condition. Such buster
could not fail to inspire confidence
in every locality that had been ravaged by
the disease. And. be it remembered also,
the great scientist-where best known as
an arrant quack and fraud-was backed and
practically sent out by the board of univer-
sity regents. The work of incubation COM
menced. The experimental thought to ape
Pasteur. His theory was that a healthy
hog vaccinated from virus taken from one
diseased with cholera would take the
plague in mild form, would recover, and
that would be the end, of ali danger 10 Mr.
Hog. 1t seemed to be a plausible theory.
The work commenced in Rchardso on
county. Herds of healthy hogs were inocu-
lated with cholera virus, It worked. Hogs
took the cholera In a mid form and died In
keeps spreading. Healthy herds caught the
plague from vaccinated herds, and the hog
kingdom down that way bids fair to be
swept from the earth. Figures tell the
story in, Bitter county. DR.. Billings,
assisted ~ Tx, DR.. Thomas, - IbWWeht
among tie farmers of - that
county a short time since with
scalpel In hand TO become pubic benefac-
tors. They were permitted to experiment
ON four healthy herds; aggregating 307
head of hogs, aud out of the number 800
took the disease in mild form and lay down
and died. So much for DIR, Billings and hog
incubation. One of the victims, through
an attorney, wrote these facts to one of the
state officials day or two ago, inquiring
as to Billings responsibility, and SUCH other
information as might be necessary preceding
prosecution. 1t is a notorious fact that
wherever Billings has inoculated hogs
throughout the state hog cholera has spre d
in the most violent form and hogs have
experimental agency went up like rocket
and came down like stick. IL is about
time to suppress it, and, especially, say
number of state officials and prominent
citizens of Lincoln. the man who won his
position by presumption and pretense.