New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
ANTHONY FOR HOG CHOLERA.
GRATIFYING RESULTS THUS FAR-SECRE-
TARY WILSON WANTS TO HAVE
AN EXHAUSTIVE TEST

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Chief OF the Bureau OF
Animal Industry, DR.. d. +. Salmon. has submitted
to Secretary Wilson report on the experiments
made In the treatment OF hogs for hog cholera with
ant,oxin serum This serum Is made on the same
principle the antitoxin OF diphtheria. Good
serum has been obtained from both horses and
cattle, q horse 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 a
curative action
This serum was first tested on small animals In
the laboratory. and, being found eficacious. was
last fall tested In Page County. Iowa. on several
herds OF swine containing altogether 27S animals.
Leaving out herd, from which definite returns as
TO cause of death could not be obtained. only 80 died
out OF pa animals treated. Of which SO were SICK
Consequently s2S per cent Of the animals In these
herds were saved or untreated herds kept under
observation during the period referred 10, about %
per cent Of the animals died. DR.. Salmon believes
that. with experience 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 re-
marked that undoubtedly the results reported by
DR.. Salmon were most encouraging 10 hog-raisers
The cost OF the serum now. said the Secretary. Is
but 10 cents per head OF animals treated, only one
this Hight cost may be still 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 20 demonstrate its efficacy upon a more eX-
tended scale. Ii Is absolutely essential that during
the experimental stage serum OF undoubted quality
be used Unless the hOg-grOwers can obtain II
from this Department they will be forced TO depend
upon what be obtained from private sources,
and owing TO the novelty Of this product, not only
will discouraSngly exorbant prices be charged for
IL, but In many cases Inferior products may be
offered. This would preclude the possibility OF
making satisfactory test on a widely extended
scale
Il propose to ask Congress to provide an appro-
priation necessary TO enable this department TO
furnish million doses of serum during the next
year. and make a considerable portion OF the APP
Precipitation Immediately available. IL seems from
DR. SalmOns report that II takes three or four
months TO put horse COW in condition TO sup
ply the serum. consequently the work on an ex-
tended scale must be undertaken at once.
THE losses from hog cholera are so enormous and
have weighed hea Willy for years upon our farmers
that | cannot imagine that Congress will for a
sarv 70 carry on this work thoroughly Apart
from the great stake the farmers have In this
matter 10 refuse 20 provide for thorough test
OF this remedy 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 a great mistake,
now that so great discovery seems TO have been
made not to finish the work by giving +, thorough
and ton