Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-05-28
Plans Campaign Against Hog Cholera

Plans Campaign Against Hog Cholera.
Arrangements are being made this
spring for an anti-hog cholera campaign
in the middle West and South or more
extensive scale than has ever been at
tempted before. After more thana decade
OF painstaking research, the Department
OF Agriculture has developed an effective
hog cholera serum. This was serum
that could be injected into healthy hog
to protect the animal against contracting
hog cholera, even when exposed TO the
contagion. II was found after extensive
use that the serum was not only preven-
tive, but when taken in early enough
stages OF the disease was curative as
well.
Use was made of the serum by various
States for several seasons after il was
developed. In 1913 the Department OF
Agriculture started an anti-cholera cam
paign, including the States OF Indiana,
Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. One county
was selected in each State and the quar-
antlne regulations were strictly enforced
by the States agricultural commission.
II was not until August, 1913, that il was
possible to give the work satisfactory
start, but taken even this late the results
were considered remarkable.
The loss from hog cholera from the
States mentioned, two years prior 10 the
experiment, had been almost 10 per cent.
Thelosse the previous year had amounted
TO over Is per cent. Started out late as
the ant-cholera campaign was, the total
loss last year was reduced to IA per cent.
OF the hogs inoculated very few were
lost al all, and in the cases where they
did die there was some particular cause
for the deaths, such as having made the
inoculation after the disease had gained
too much OF start.
One county in each OF the various States
was selected as unit, and when there
was report of hog cholera inspectors
were sent instantly - the infected farm.
The well hogs were separated from the
sick ones and protective incubation was
commenced. AS soon as possible all Of
the hog herd surrounding the injected
farm were given protective inoculation,
the idea being to make Gordon OF i'm
mune herds around the focus of infection.
This scheme worked excellently, so that
this year If is intended to extend the work
materially.
Thirteen States are to be selected, all
of them in the middle West and South,
because this is the greatest hog-raising
area of the country. Work has been
started already in seven States and the
whole of the intended area will be COW
cred before the end of the fiscal year.
II is intended to supplement the gov
ernment inoculation work by stricter
supervision OF the private manufacturers
OF hog cholera serum. This will require
quite number Of men and the co-opera-
ton Of the State agricultural colleges and
veterinary inspectors of all the States in
the experimental area.
The department is well satisfied so far
with the results of the anti-choIera work,
and hopes TO be able to extend the cam
paigu so that eventually the whole coun-
try will be under protective inocuIation,
and any outbreak OF hog cholera can BE
dealt with the instant If appears. This
general cleanup of the hog cholera situa-
ton is more extensive undertaking in
some ways than the cattle tick eradica-
ton in the Southern States. A few years
ago, when it was first contemplated, il
was feared that its execution was beyond
the power OF the federal government.
Results so far. however, indicate that if
is well within the bounds Of possibility
and may be accomplished within a few
years.