Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-17
ANTI-HoG "CHOLERA" SERUM.
It's Use Saved SIS Per Cent of In
fected Iowa Herds-Cheap and
EficaciOus.

Washington. JAN l6-The chief of the
bureau of animal industry, DR.. d. +. Sal
mon. has submitted to Secretary Wilson
report upon the experiments made in the
treatment of hogs for hog cholera with
anti-toxine serum. This serum is made up
on the same principal as the anti-toXine of
diphtheria. Good serum has been obtained
from both horses and cattle. a horse or
COW being inoculated with the hog cholera
virus in small quantities at first. and with
larger doses after suitable intervals of
time. The resistance of the animal Is thus
raised to the highest practicable point. The
blood of such an animal when injected
under the skin of swine has been found
to possess both preventive and curative
action. This serum was first tested upon
small animals in the laboratory, and. be-
ing found efficacious, was last fall tested
in Page county. Ia, on several herds of
swine. containing altogether 2!s animals.
Leaving out one herd. from which definite
returns as to cause of death could not be
obtained only thirty-nine died out of pa
animals treated, of which eiShty-six were
sick.
Consequently. SIS per cent Of the animals
hogs kept under observation during the
period referred 10, about So per cent of the
animals died. Dr. Salmon believed that.
with experience. a better quality of serum
| can be prepared. and he has no doubt
hereafter.
Referring to this report. Secretary Will
| couraging to hog raisers. The cost of the
serum now. said the secretary. is but 10
| doubtless in course of time this light. cost
may still be further reduced. 1T is in
| my opinion" said the secretary, of the
utmost Importance 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 efficacy upon a more extended scale.
| 1t is absolutely essential that, during the
experimental stage. serum OF undoubted
| can obtain it from this department they
will be forced to depend upon what can
| be obtained from private sources. and. ow-
| Ing to the novelty of this product, not only
will discouragingly exorbitant prices be
charged for it,, but In many ~. cases Inferior
clude the possibility of making satisfac-
| tory test on a widely extended scale. pro-
| pose to ask congress to provide an appro-
| ment to furnish 100000 doses of serum
| during the next year. and to make a con-
| siderable portion of the appropriation inn
mediately available 1t seems from DE: Dr:
months to put horse or COW in condlt1on
| to supply the serum; consequently, the
| work upon an extended scale must be un-
dertaken at once.
"The losses from hog cholera are so
| enormous and have weighed so heavily
| for years upon our farmers that I cannot
| imagine that congress will for a moment
| essary to carry on this work thoroughly.
Indeed, apart from the great stake the
| farmers have in this matter TO refuse to
| provide for a thorough test OF this rem
edy now would be. indeed, penny wise and
pound foolish. for the discovery of this
serum has involved already many years OF
work and very large sum of money. II
would be great mistake, now that SO
great a discovery seems to have been made
not to finish the work by giving 1t a
thorough and extensive test"