Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-28
ERADICATING HOG CHOLERA

The board OF trustees OF the Georgia
state College Of Agriculture has per
fected plans whereby the veterinary de-
partment Of the college will shortly be
able 10 furnish 10 the farmers OF Geor-
gia the Dorset hog cholera serum which
has been used with such signal success
In both preventing outbreaks OF hog
cholera and in checking such outbreaks
when they have occurred during the past
few years. The manufacture of this
serum is a delicate undertaking and re-
cuires a moderate investment in the way
OF a perfectly sanitary laboratory, con-
siderable laboratory equipment and an
isolated hog farm of capacity not only
sufficient to meet the present needs OF
the state but to meet the demands OF
the future when we hope Georgia VIII
have assumed her rightful place among
the hog-growing states.
The college has been unremitting in ITS
efforts to place within the reach of the
Georgia farmers this serum which will
remove the dread OF hog cholera with its
terrible tax upon the tangible wealth OF
the state. There is no cure for hog chol-
era and no claims are made for the
Dorset hog cholera serum as curative
agent, but by its use the disease can
be preYented from wtping out any great
proportion OF the affected herd, and FUR
LNEEs LlEE disease N&A DC ~
the use of the serum The use OF the
serum in numerous outbreaks of hog
cholera on farms in many different parts
OF the United States has shown that
all hogs in an affected herd which have
not already contracted the disease may
be saved BY the serum. All hogs in the
neighborhOOd of an outbreak of hog chol-
era to which they have not as yet been
exposed viii be SO protected by the serum
that they viii not contract the disease.
Statistics compiled by the United States
Bureau Of Animal Industry during vari-
Gus outbreaks Of hog cholera prove con-
clusively the efficiency Of the Dorset
serum in combating hog cholera. The
results referred TO are as follows:
In herds Of hogs in which the disease
has recently appeared the use of the
serum checked the disease with an av-
erage loss Of only IL per cent. In herds
under the same conditions but not treat
ed with the serum, the loss by death av-
erages IS per cent The above shows
that at the time the serum was used
on these hogs II per cent OF them were
affected with hog cholera and subse-
Quentiy died. The remaining So per cent
were not affected by the disease at the
time Of using the serum and remained
wei in spite of the fact that hog cholera
was raging about them and that IS per
cent OF the hogs under the same condi-
tons but untreated with the serum died
OF hoG cholera
In herds where the disease was OF long
or standing and the Infection consequent
~ more general in the herd the results
were is per cent of deaths after the
serum was used and n per cent OF deaths
under the same conditions where It was
not used.
The use OF the serum In herds OF hogs
~ hnc rnwNawu
therefore. exposed 10 the disease. but In
which the disease was not yet apparent
kept the loss OF deaths down TO less than
8 per cent, while in hogs under the same
condition but untreated with the serum
the loss was Is per cent
These results are very gratifying and
prove that the Dorset serum removes
from the business Of hog-growing the
danger of the loss OF the whole herd
which has heretofore menaced the farm
eFs in all parts OF the country, and fur
ther. IL removes the danger OF losing
even a considerable per cent OF the herd
from hog cholera II the serum be avail
able and be used promptly in the begin
ming OF an outbreak OF hog cholera
Several states have already under
taken the manufacture OF the Dorset
hog cholera serum for the beneft OF the
hog industry within their borders and arc
using il IN combating outbreaks OF hog
cholera The results of the use OF serum
by the state authorities have been fully
as gratifying as those obtained by the Of
fcials OF the United States Bureau OF
Animal Industry Since the serum is cost
ly and difficult TO make and does not
keep well for any considerable period Of
time, IL becomes advisable for the state
10 undertake the manufacture and dis
tribution OF the same To this end the
board OF trustees OF the college OF agri-
culture have authorized the erection of
q veterinary hospital at the earliest pos