The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-01-27
RELIEF FOR SWINE.
Successful Tests Of the Anti-Tox-
inc for Hog Cholera.
DR.. SALMON'S ENCOURAGING REPORT
Congress VIII Be Asked to ApproprI
ate Money for the Distribution
Of Serum.

The Chief Of the Bureau Of Animal
Industry, DIR. E. Salmon, has sub-
United TO Secretary Wilson a report
UPON the experiments made in the
treatment of hogs for hog cholera with
ant-toxlne serum. This serum il
made upon the same principle as the
anti-toxine of diphtheria. Good serum
has been obtained from both horses ana
cattle, horse or COW being inoculated
Win the hog cholera virus in small
quantities at first, land with larger dosas
after suitable intervals of time. tn
resistance OF the animal is TINS raisa,1
70 the hlghest practicable point. The
blood OF such an animal when ipiectad
under the skin of swine has been fonnd
to possess both preventive and curative
action.
ms serum was first tested nno,,
small animals IN the laboratory ana
being found efficacious, was last fol,
tested in Page County, Iowa, ON sew.
erai herds OF swine. containing alto.
getheI 27S animals. Leaving out one
nerd, from which definite returns as In
cause OF death could not be obtained.
only 81 died out of 244 animals treated
OF which SO were sick. Consequently
1913 per cent of the animals OF these
herds were saved. OF untreated HOGS
kept under observation during the
period referred to, about s5 per cent
OF the animals died.
DIR. Salmon believes that with Az
perlence better quality of serum can
be prepared, and he has no doubt that
this percentage can be maintained
hereafter.
Referring to this report, Secretary
Wilson remarked that undoubtedly the
results reported by DR.. Salmon were
most encouraging to hog raisers. The
cost OF the serum now, said the Score.
tary, was but 10 cents per head of ami
mails treated, only one dose being re-
quired, and doubtless, in course of
tlme' this light cost may still be
further reduced
" 1t is, in my opinion" said the Sac.
rotary, of the utmost portanoe:that
this serum, for the next year at least.
be made by the bureau under our own
supervision and distributed in large
quantities in order to demonstrate its
enlcacy upon more extended scale.
1t is absolutely essential that during
the experimental stage serum of nm
doubted quality be used. Unless the hog
growers can obtain it from tnis depart
ment they will be forced to depend
upon what can be obtained from mi.
vate sources, and, owing to the novelty
OF TINS product, not only will discour-
aglngly exorbltant pri oes be charged
Tor IL, but IN many cases inferior pro-
duets may be offered. This would pre.
olude the possibility of making a salts
factory test on widely extended scale.
propose to ask Congress to provide
an appropriation necessary to enable
TINS department to furnish 1000. 600
doses OF serum during the next year
ana TO make considerable portion OF
ene appropriation Immediately avail
aple. 1t seems that it takes three or
TOUR months to put horse or COW into
condition to supply the serum; conse.
luently the work upon an extended
scale must be undertaken at once.
The losses from hog cholera ara so
enormous and have weighed SO heavily
or years upon our farmers that can
lot imagine that Congress will for
moment hesitate to make the appro-
'riatlons necessary to carry on this
VOTE thoroughly. Indeed. apart from
ne great stake the farmers have in
ms matter, to refuse to provide for a
noroush test of this remedy now
you'd be, indeed, penny wise and
,ouhd foolish;' for the discovery OF
MS serum has involved already many
ears Of work and very large sum Of
money. 1t would be q great mistake
ow that so great discovery seems IN
ave oeen made not to finish the work
J giving 1t thorough and extensive
est"