The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1898-01-20

Washington, Jan. 16.-rhe chief Of
the bureau Of animal industry, DR.. ID.
II. Salmon, 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 upon the same principle
as that for diphtheria. Good serum has
been obtained from both hores and cat
tie, horse or cow being innoculated
with the hog cholera virus in small guam
titles at first and with larger doses af-
ter suitable intervals Of time. Fhe re-
sistance 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 a preventive and curative
action. This serum was first tested on
small animals in the laboratory and being
found cHcaciOus, was last fall tested in
Page county, Ia, on several herds OF
swine, containing altogether 21S animals.
Leaving out one herd from which definite
returns as to cause of death could not
be obtained only 80 died of PA animals
treated of which SO were sick. Conse-
qucnt!y SIS per cent of the animals were
saved. OF INFESTED herds kept under
observation during the period referred to
about 50 per cent of the animals died.
Dr. Salmon believes that with experience
Il better quality Of serum can be prepared
and has no doubt that this percentage
can he maintained hereafter Referring
to this report, Secretary Wilson remarked
that undoubtedly the results reported by
Dr. Salmon were most encouraging to
hog raiscrs. The cost of the serum now,
said the secretary, is but 10 cents per
head of animals treated, only one dose
being required, and doubtless in course
Of time this light cost may be still fur
thcr reduced.
1T is, in my opinion said the secre-
tary, "Of the utmost Importance that
this serum for the next year at least be
made by the bureau under our own SUI
pcryisiOn. and distributed in large guam
titles in order to demonstrate its efficacy
upon Il more extended scale. 1t is
absolutely essential that during the eX-
pcrimcntal stage serum of undoubted
quality be used. Unless the hog grow
crs can obtain it from this department
they will be forced to depend upon what
can be obtained from private sources,
and owing to the novelty of this product,
not only will discouragingly eXorbitant
prices he charged for it, but in many
cases inferior products may be offered.
This would preclude the possibility of
making II satisfactory test on widely
extended scale.
81 promise to ask congress to provide
an appropriation necessary to enable this
department to furnish 100000 doses of
serum during the next year, and to make
Il considerable portion of the appropria-
ton Immediately available. 1t seems
from DIR. Salmon's report that it takes
three or four months to put horse or
COW in condition to supply the serum;
consequently work on an extended
scale must be undertaken at once.
"'rhe losses from hog cholera are so
enormous and have weighed so heavily
for years upon our farmers that | cant
imagine that congress will for Il moment
hesitate to make the appropriations neces-
sary to carry on this work thoroughly.
Indeed. apart from the great stake the
farmers have in this matter to refuse
to provide for thorough test of this
now would be, indeed penny
wise and pound foolish, for the discov-
cry of this serum has involved already
many years of work and very large
sum of money. 1t would be great mis-
AXE now, that so great discovery
seems to have been made, not to finish
he work done by giving a thorough and
extensive test"