The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-17
ANTI-TONINE SERUM IN HOGS.
Swine Suffering From Cholera Saved
by InOeuIation.


Washington, Jan. 1G.-The chief of the
bureau of animal industry, Dr. D. e. Sal
mon, has submitted to Secretary Wilson a
report upon the experiments made in the
treatment Of hogs for hog cholera with
antl-toxine serum. This serum Is made
| upon the same principle as the anti-toxine
of diphtheria Good serum has been OBJ
tanned from both horses and cattle, a
horse or cow being ihoculated with the
hog cholera virus in small quantities at
hrst, and with larger doses after suitable
intervals of time. The resistance of the
animal is thus raised to the highest prac-
tcable point. The blood of such an ami
NAL when injected under the skin of
swine has been found to possess both a
preventive and curative action.
The serum was first tested upon small
animals in the laboratory and found eff
teacious, and was last fan tried in Page
county, Iowa, on several herds of swine
containing altogether 2TS animals Leay-
ing out one herd, from which definite re-
turns as to cause of death could not be
obtained, only thirty-nine died out of 2l4
animals treated, of which Sc were sick
consequently 2S per cent of the animals
in these herds were saved. OF untreated
herds kept under observation during the
period referred to about So per cent. Of the
animals died
DIR. Salmon believes that with expert
ence better quality of serum can be
procured and he has no doubt that this
percentage can be maintained hereafter
referring 10 this report Secretary Wilson
remarked that undoubtedly the results re-
ported by DR.. Salmon were most eneour-
aging to hog rasers. The cost of the se-
rum now, said the secretary, Is but ten
cents per head of animals treated. only
one dozen being required, and doubtless In
course of time this light cost may be still
further reduced.
1T is, In my opinion said the secretary,
"of the utmost Importance that this serum
Tor 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 ex-
tended scale. 1t is absolutely essential that
during the experimental stage serum of un-
doubted purity be used Unless hog grow
ers can be supplied by the government
they will be forced TO depend upon what
can be obtained from private sources, and
owing to the novelty of this product not
only viii discouraglngly exorbtant prices
be charged for It, but in many cases in
ferior products may be offered, This would
preclude the possibility of making satis-
factory test on widely extended scale
Il propose to ask Congress 10 provide
an appropriation necessary to enable this
department 10 furnish 100000 ounces of
serum during the next year ana make
considerable portion of the appropriation
Immediately available II seems from Or.
Salmon's report that 1t takes from three
TO four months TO put horse or COW in
condition to supply The serum, consequent
ly the work upon an extended scale must
be undertaken at once.
THE losses from hog cholera are go
enormous and have waged so heavily for
years upon our farmers that / cannot inn
agine that Congress will, for a moment,
hesitate to make the appropriations nec-
essary to carry on this work thoroughly.
Indeed, apart from the great stake the
farmers have In the matter, that for Con-
gress to refuse to provide for test now,
would be, indeed, pennywlse and pound
foolish.
This discovery has been the result of
many years work and the expenditure Of
a large sum of money. 1t would be a
great mistake now that a great discovery
has been made, to not give 1t a thorough
an6 extensive