The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-07-28
Not Cholera That Ais
TwO-Thirds the Hogs
Doctor III. Preston HOskins Thinks
Swine Now Much Maligned
Critters in Minnesota
Says Many Pigs Reported as Choleric
Not Affected at All, But
Are Diseased
RenvilIe, Where Experiments Were
Made, Shows Surprising Returns
During Last Few Weeks

H1Cy Cne NIlnneSOCa HOS, he IL
much-maligned critter, for he is not
so choleric as he has been represented
to be.
Fully two-thirds' of the disease af-
| fictions Of the states hog population,
popularity supposed to be cholera, are
not cholera at all, according to con-
illusions of federal government ex-
perts who are conducting an investi-
cation in Rslville county on the ma
ture of hog cholera and methods Of
combating it.
Federal Experts on Trail
Last May the bureau of animal in
dustry of the United States depart
ment of Agriculture sent four spec
ialists to the county to conduct
thorough study of the cholera situa-
ton. They are doing it in co-opera-
ton with the Minnesota agricultural
experiment station and the state live
stock sanitary board. Reports OF
progress made have been received by
DIR. H. Preston Hoskins, of the uni
versity's veterinary science division.
TwO-Thirds Didn't Have Cholera
"The findings of the government
men in Renville county as to the mis-
diagnosis of cholera corroborate the
conviction held by our division" said
DR.. Hoskins. "They have discovered
that of all the herds in the county re-
ported to them as infected with chol-
era. fully two-thirds didn't have chol-
era at all. They had some other di
sease, most often digestive disturban-
ces. Eating of green barley in many
cases seems to have caused trouble
of this kind 1t is fair to infer that
this condition in Renville county is
typical of the whole state and of the
, Northwest.
at follows that thousands of hogs
have been treated with serum in the
past several years that never had any
cholera in their midst-and this means
great waste of serum. The waste is
especially deplorable when one con-
siders that many farmers with herds
actually infected with cholera could
not get serum because of the restric-
ted supply.
"We have been aware of the fact
that large quantities of serum have
been used where there was no need,
and have tried to restrict the practice
whenever possible. The findings point
emphatically to the advisability of
diagnosis by a skilled veterinarian in
all cases of suspected cholera and the
use of serum only after this diagno-
sis has given cholera verdict"
Overrun With Cures
An enlightening phase of the situa-
ton, according to Dr. Hoskins, is pre-
scented by the relation of alleged chol-
era cures and the results of their use.
1.-THE state is overrun with so-called
cholera cures" he said, land the rea-
son why some of them seem In GER
tain eases to have been effective ap-
pears to be because they weren't used
for cholera at ALL
II know of dozen different cures
now being vigorously pushed in Min
nesota. They all may be divided into
two classes: Disinfectants and condi-
ton powders Disinfectants always are
of some value in getting rid of germs
of all sorts, and condition powders are
not without merit as preventives of
disease in general. But none % these
is specific for the cure of cholera.
Where no cholera exists, herd treated
with any of these cures may come
through in good shape, and at once
the result is heralded as proof of the
efficacy of the treatment
DR.. Hoskins was asked as to the
extent of cholera in Minnesota to-
day compared with past summers. at
would be difficult to compare with
other years. he said, ''but there is a
lgood deal of cholera in many of the
counties. We have been able to meet
the demands for serum on the expert
ment station plant, and are putting
it out as rapidly as possible"
j 1t is said that if the legislature
confirms the Recommendation of the
Minnesota Bankers association COM
mittee on hog cholera and forbids the
kuse of virus in the state, less serum
will be used than heretofore and the
situation can be handled better.
| Virus and serum together are given