The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-12-10
HOG CHOLERA ON THE RUN

They're putting hog cholera out of
business in Dawson county. The
Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture, the State
College of this city, and the state Live
Stock Sanitary Board have centered
forces against hog cholera in that
county-and it is believer the enemy is
In full retreat.
From October 6, when the actual
work of vaccination began, until No
vember 80, the veterinary force under
supervision of DR.. S. M. Smith, federal
Inspector in charge, treated 73 infect
ed herds consisting of 4,419 hogs. Re-
ports have been received from the
first 43 of these herds, showing 1850
srrgs treated. More than 81 per CEN
Oh these showed high temperature, in
dicating that they were already infect
ed with cholera at the time of vaccina-
ton. The death loss was only 367, less
than 13 per cent. The average death
loss in the United States in infected
herds not v~accinated is estimated to
be from IS to IS per cent. This is a
saving of nearly 100000 worth of
hogs, to say nothing of six or seven
thousand dollars saved in veterinary
fees and cost of serum. But that Is
not all. Untold wealth was saved to
Dawson county farmers by sanitary
control and educational work to pre-
vent the disease from spreading to
other herds.
The plan Of battle against hog
cholera in Dawson county is an inter
esting story. The force consists OF
DR.. s. M. Smith, inspector in charge;
DR.. R. M. Ward and DR.. C. F. Hartman,
veterinary inspectors; DR.. N. J. Mayer.
appointed to represent the state Live
Stock Sanitary Board; and Vey Val
entine, B. S., a graduate and represen.
tative of the State College, whose
duties are to assist in the census, or
~ganization. and educational work. The
state furnishes a large spray pump
carried on an auto-trailer and used for
d~isinfecting infected farm premises.
Watch Your Hogs" is the slogan.
Upon the first signs of sickness farm
ers IN instructed to isolate the sick
animals at once and notify the In
spectors who visit the farms at the
first possible moment. II hog cholera
can be diagnosed, the whole herd Is
vaccinated at once; n%eighboring farm
ers are notified and instructed as to
what methods should be adopted to
prevent the spread of infection; and
a large sign is placed at the farm road
side entrance.-"Hog Cholera. Danger
GUS. Keep Out" About thirty days
later. or as soon as the hogs are free
from cholera, the assistant state veter-
marian goes to the farm and super
vises the cleaning up and disinfecting
VI IuC VIcuul6S6.
It IL the intention of DR.. Smith to
hold a series of school house meet.
ings during the winter in the various
townships. The first Of these was
held in the Belts school house. Beulah
township. on December LIST. Fully two
thirds of the actual farmers In the
township attended this meeting and
aroused great enthusiasm. The pros
pect Of wiping hog cholera out OF the
county looked good to them. They
had good reason for feeling jubilant.
The prevailing sentiment at this meet.
ing wal that an organized effort should
be undertaken at once to induce every
farmer to clean up and disinfect his
premises. A committee decided to
take Immediate steps to carry out this