The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-05
PROMPT USE OF SERUM
WILL SAVE YOUR HOGS
Neglect in Combating Cholera Means Loss of Many Thousands
Worth of Porkers Each Year-State and National
Governments Cooperating to Aid Farmers.

Blackstone. Va, Feb. Upon
investigation OF recently report,
disease In swine near Richmond.
virginia q severe outbreak OF
hog cholera was found. The disease
had appeared less than two weeks
previous to this investigation, but IN
that time twenty-five swine had dled
and many more were In the advanced
stages. ut which time very little can
be done toward effecting "A cure.
There is no known cure of hos
cholera, but through the work OF the
United States Bureau of Animal
Industry Tof the Department of Agri-
culture. there has been developed
method by means OF which the disease
can he successfully prevented.
The hog through its previous infec-
ton with hog cholera has an immu-
nifty Or resistance to the infective
germ that causes cholera. Such hog
is taken and inoculated with large
amount of the disease producing
germs This incubation, instead of
producing the disease in such an ami
NAL stimulates the production of "A
large amount of protective properties
in that animals blood which when
drawn and injected into another hog
having no resistance to hog cholera,
there by gives that hog resistance
TO hog cholera. This blood we call
anti-hog serum. Therefore, anu-hog-
cholera serum is the blood from hog
having "a high resistance to cholera.
should Re Used EH9riy
Anti-hog cholera serum should he
used early in an outbreak OF the dfs-
ease IL possible when the disease FIRST
appears. at which time very graft
flying results will be obtained by its
proper use. We have no basis Tor
recommending the anu-hog cholera
serum as a curative agent, athougn
we are receiving reports OF apparent
cures from it's use in double doses
on yisibly sick animals. But where
used on the chronic or acutely sick
animals very little. IL any. benefit
comes from the use.
One county demonstration agent
had used the serum on 24l visibly
sick animals with a loss of but AZ
1-2 per cent, which loss would have
no doubt reached 9s per cent II the
animals had been left untreated. This
same man has used serum In 2S herds
totaling 1918 animals, where the dis
ease was present at the time of treat
ment. with q loss Of but ILL., per cent
AS records of the United States Blu
reau of Animal Industry show in sucn
herds where no treatment is admins
tered, this los3 averages 80 per cent
After use of anti-hog- cholera serum
with no apparent results after treas-
ment on visibly sick hogs and in
herds where infection is present. -
man Is in no position TO condemn or
criticise such serum as ineffective, be-
cause in so doing he forgets that he Is
using cure what science through
experience and experiments has shown
to be only preventive.
Must Enforce law.
AS a preventive. serum should be
promptly used on the herd where
exposure to the disease had occurred
Do not await the appearance OF tht
diesease before giving the treatment
The mere presence OF the disease ir
/ the country does not signify exposure
unless the quarantine laws Of the
state are disregarded and sick animal.
run at large or the carcasses of tbs
cholera hogs are left exposed to be
eaten by buzzards. dogs. etc, under
which condition no herd Is safe. ever
though at some distance from such
places.
The infection OF hog cholera is pres
ent in the lots. pens and quarters oc-
infection is carried from herd to herd
| from farm to farm. in the filth from
such places that clings to the feet Of
man, animals. birds. and to the outer
/ clothing. wagons. farm implements
etc. When cholera appears on tn,
adjoining farm. or there 10 good rea-
son to believe the infection may havs
been carried to your hogs. then y