The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-07-12

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perhaps q better one is / ounce or cor
rosive sublimate in s gallons Of water.
Apply with a broom or spray pump.
Then whitewash. If sick hogs have
been allowed in a field or pasture, keep
all hogs out of same for two years
afterward.
In the foregoing discussion the serum
treatment, which is promising to be of
much value in the cure and prevention
of hog cholera, has not been taken into
consideration. Inasmuch az it is q
promising remedy it may be we'll to
explain what it is and how it is used.
The serum or antiSoxin treatment has
been somewhat recently introduced
into medicine for those diseases which
are introduced by bacteria. It has
been used during the past two or three
years with a marked degree Of success
in cases Of diphtheria. In diseases
which are produced by germs it is not
the germs, but rather a poison which
the germs produce in the process Of
life which causes the disturbance in
the body. When germs are introduced
into the body, they commence to mul-
tiply and in the multiplication and
growth produce their peculiar poison;
the poisons differing in the different
species. AS o as this poison com:
mences to be formed, the body in or
der to protect itself, commences to
produce a counteracting substance,
which is called Antitoxin. The strug.
gle for existence has begun. Some
times the body is victorious, enough of
the antitoxin be produced to counter
act the action of the poison; the germs
are worn out and the body RECEIVERS it's
normal condition. at other times the
fight is a losing one for the body, the
poison being produced in such quanti-
ties as to cause death. In some dis
eaees the body is nearly always victor
ious, while in others it is nearly always
defeated The relative number and
strength of the germs, and the vigor
Of the body will decide the contest. A
strong animal is always better able to
withstand disease that is one whose
constitution has been weakened, either
by poor care and feeding, or by i'm
proper breeding.
The principle of the ~antitoxin treat
ment then, is to introduce Into the
diseased animal some antitcxin, which
has been produced by artificial meth
DDS in some other animal. The animal
selected for this work is generally the
horse, but cattle are sometimes used.
Great are is necessary to see that the
animal thus used is free from all dis
ease.
The germs causing the disease, the
treatment for which the antitoxin is to
be used, are grown arti6cially il some
beef tea. A very small amount OF this
beef tea culture ia then injected be-
meath the skin of the borae, or animal
used for the production Of the antitox
in. This will cause q slight attack of
the disease and in order to combat it
the body produces the antitnxiu. In a
short time the slight fever produced
subsidies and the animal returns to
health. A larger amount OF the beef
tea culture is then il 'cted, producing
similar results. This process is con-
tinued, injecting larger doses each
time, until very large amounts Of the
culture a be injected without csus
ing serious disturbance. The animal
ia then said to be immune, the System
being charged with antitoxin. A little
blood is then drawn from the animal
and tested and if it contains a sum
cient quantity Of entitoxin the animal
is bled, some six to eight quarts Of
blood being withdraw. This blood Is
set In a cool place and allowed to clot
separates from the solid portion. The
serum is then prepared for use by fl
tering and sterilizipg, It takes from
three to four months to render the
horse immune, so that the serum con
tains sufficient antitoxin for use. The
same animal may be utilized again for
the production of more serum by re-
peating the process.
The serum, like the medicine above
recommended, is used to prevent as
we'll as to cure hog cholera. One dose
injected under the skin should be sum
Gent as a preventive vaccination.
DR.. Salmon, Chief Of the United
States Bureau of Animal Industry, re
ports better success from the serum
treatment than was expected, and
recommends that Congress make an
appropriation to pay for the prepare
ton and free distribution of a large
quantity of hog cholera serum, but as
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