The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-08-21
CHOLERA SITUATION UNUSUAL
N.. LY SERIOUS.
Prof. Kennedy Says Loss to Iowa
Farmers Will Total Millions.

Iowa farmers are facing the most
serious situation with respect to
their live stock in years. And the
loss that will be suffered by Iowans
will total millions, so w. J. Ken
nedy, director of the extension de-
partment of the Iowa State College
at Ames, has announced.
With hog cholera worse than 1t
has been in twelve years and invad-
ing every section of the state in it's
most deadly and malignant form. the
farmers are facing problem that is
more serious than it has been their
fate to battle with in many years. A
five years campaign, with the sup
port of every progressive farmer IN
the state, viii be necessary to give
the farmers the upper hand in the
war on cholera, Professor Kennedy
declared.
1--WE are just beginning an educa-
tional campaign that will require five
years time and an expenditure Of
from $4,000 to 100000 Profess
sor Kennedy said. This time and ex-
penditure will include only the ex-
penses of our experts, who are carry
ing on the educational work.
Five Men for Field Work.
1.-The extension department has
two noted cholera experts in the field
meeting the farmers and awakening
them to the necessity OF putting
forth organized effort to stamp out
the disease. We have secured X. w.
Stouder of Kansas and DR.. Charles
Rice of Lexington, KY, both gradu-
ates of Iowa State College and hog
cholera experts in their own states.
These men have been at work since
July 20, and their entire time has
been devoted to educating the farm
ers as to the best methods of fight
ing hog cholera. We are negotiating
for the services of three other ex-
perts and by fall expect to have five
men at work in the state. These men
will be kept at work continuously
and the campaign will not be allow
ed to lag.
Hog cholera in Iowa is six weeks
earlier than usual, and with the sup
ply of serum but mere fraction OF
the demand the farmers are being
compelled to watch the deadly work
of the disease without much hope OF
stopping it's ravages before January.
lowing to the fact that the cholera
is so far advanced it is playing havoc
among the young pigs. Animals
weighing from 40 to SO pounds offer
little resistance to the cholera, and
as there is no demand for such stuff
on the markets farmers must suffer
dead loss on this sort of Give stock.
Worst Stage in September.
The cholera usually is at its worst
stage in September, when the young
hogs are weighing around $50
pounds. There is a market for this
sort of stuff and farmers can dispose
of them at a reasonable profit before
the ravages of cholera set in.
I'VE have been handicapped by
the lack OF serum. Right now there
isn't a single state in which serum
is being manufactured where we can
get $4,000 cubic centimeters OF SER
UNI. One county alone would need
many times more than that amount,
since it takes 8 IS cubic centimeters
of the serum for each hog. The prob
lem of getting serum is more diff
cult in Iowa, since one-sixth OF the
hogs of the United States are raised
in this state.
THE labratory at Ames was ham
dicapped this year by reason OF the
fact that it could not start until
cholera had begun it's ravages in
earnest. Nearly every county in the
state could use serum, but we can't
get it. BY January l expect the lab
ratory will be able to furnish enough
serum to enable us to. do much more
good work next year. Not two or
three years, but five years time will
be required to stamp out the disease
effectively, and some idea of the
necessity for early and organized ac-
ton is shown by the fact that Iowa
lost 100000 last year through |
much this year.
Plan Detailed Work.
"A unique way of fighting cholera
will be utilized next year. We expect
to organize territories of six miles |
square wherever cholera is reported |
and then go in and keep it down.
The farmers will handle the situa-
ton themselves, with the aid of the |
local veterinarian. Eventually the
situation must be left to the local
veterinarians, but we will be ready |
to assist them in carrying on the |
work, and in communities which do
not have licensed veterinarians we
will send our experts to carry on the
work.
&C. H. STANCE, director of the SER
UNI labratory, is conducting a tree
school for veterinarians every We'd
nesday throughout the year. Veter-
inarians who handle serum and virus
must secure permit from DR..
STANCE, under the provisions of a
new law, which is a guarantee that
they are qualified to carry on the
work of vaccination. Veterinarians
using serum only are not required to
take out permits from DR.. STANCE.
president Pearson of the college
is, intensely interested in the WORK,
because of his experience as COM
missioner of agriculture in New
York. President Pearson had charge
OF the sanitary live stock work in
that state, and as the result he is
fully alive to the Importance and
need of determined war on cholera
in this state. He is aiding in the
work to his full ability