The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-21
Ninet-F Five Per Cent of Hogs Saved
By the Serum Treatment for Cholera

| LAFAYETTE, Ind, March I'll
Comparatively few Indiana farmers
realize the full scope and value OF the
work that is done each year by the
Purdue University Agricultural Exper-
iment Station, but the 25th annual
report of the Station recently issued
by Director Arthur Goss reveals some
astonishing facts and figures concern
ing the institutions wide range of
activities. Many different agricultural
problems seriously affecting Indiana
agriculture have been satisfactorily
dealt with and information of the ut
most value to the farmers of the state
has been obtained by research and
Experimentation. Results derived in
this work have been put to practical
use and have been of untold benefit to
such farmers as have taken advantage
of the valuable aid offered them. The
Agricultural Extension department
has done much to get these results
before the people and the Experiment
Stations publication and mailing bu-
reau has broken all records in the ex-
tent of its output during the year.
Despite a severe handicap imposed
upon the Station by reason of hurri-
cane which destroyed buildings and
ruined much important experimental
work then in progress the years
record of accomplishments surpassed
that of any previous year and the
benefits conferred upon the farmers of
the state have exceeded those of any
other period in corresponding degree.
The different branches of agriculture
with which the Experiment Station
has dealt include Animal Husbandry,
Dairying, Horticulture, Soils and
.Crops, Veterinary Science, Botanical,
chemical and chronological research.
In addition to this the feed and ferti-
lizer control work, the production of
hog cholera serum and special soil
Experiments have been unusually ex-
Itensive.
Hog ChoreIa Treatment.
The serum treatment for hog
cholera as practiced by the Station is
very successful. A new building cost
ing $1,000 has been provided for &C
commodation of hogs used in the pre-
paration of the serum and for some
of the laboratory work connected
Herewith. Up to the time the annual
report was compiled 100000 hogs have
been treated in the state with serum
prepared by the Station. These have
nearly all been in herds already in
fected with cholera. Without treat
: ment a large portion of these hogs
would have died. By means of
the treatment about 50 per cent were
mo hot hn h
out treatment, would have been but so
per cent which is very low estimate,
the saving by reason of the treatment
/ was As per cent or $500 animals. At
an average of $40 head these would
be worth $675, 10000. From this it can
be seen that the serum treatment for
hogs is decidedly worth while and is
saving the swine growers of the state
much money.
The Station is not yet able to pro-
duce enough serum to supply the de-
mand although the production at this
time is much greater than ever before.
1t was recommended by the Station
and State Swine Breeders Association
that means be furnished by the state
for the employment of field men to
[
ent sections, apply the serum and give
instruction in regard to the proper
care Of hogs, this to be supplemented
by the passage of quarantine laws.
Acting upon these recommendations
the last Legislature made an appro-
priation providing for such field men
under the directions of the Station
and enacted some excellent quarantine
law TO be administered by the State
Veterinarian.
Feed and Fertilizer.
The feed and fertilizer control work
of the Station is proving of immense
value to the farmers of the state, the
State Chemists department being
charged by the law with it's admins
tration. A force of inspectors is con-
stantly kept on the road collecting
samples of feeds and fertilizers on
sale and if the products fall below
the required standard prosecution fol-
lows. The Supreme Court of the
United States few months ago hand
ed down an important decision bear
ing on this work. The International
Stock Food company brought suit
against State Chemist Jones to en-
join him from applying the law to that
company. The case went from the
state to the federal courts where the
law was upheld and its terms fully
; sustained by a unanimous verdict.
The court decided, among other
things, that it was proper to require
manufacturers to name the ingredi-
ents in feeds offered for sale
Work on Soil.
Important soil work was carried on
during the year and is still in progress
on larger scale than ever before, not
only at the Station but on typical soil
areas in different sections of the state
By means of these much has been
learned in regard to the proper treat