Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-03

The serum plant Of John Morrell Il
Co., the newest industry and only one
Of its kind In Ottumwa, Is an institu-
ton that one must see to appreciate.
This latest Of the Morrell by plants op-
Grated In connection with it's immense
packing business, Is just about COM
pleted and already has started to turn
ture Is Its absolute thoroughness, i'm
maculate cleanliness, most modern of
sanitary improvements and perfect ar
rangement and equipment for the pur-
pose for which 1t Is constructed, make
1t a very interesting thing to see. When
in full operation and producing its
product, the hog raiser will be afford
ed means close at hand to ward off
the dread hos cholera. The packers will
also find a more plentiful supply Of
healthy hogs to supply their wants. The
good Of the farmer and packer as well
were considered when the project took
root in the mind Of T. D. Foster head
Of the local packing company
Tho heavy toll on the farmer and the
hog supply by the visitation Of the
hog cholera in various parts Of the
country led to the local company taking
up the serum manufacture. Before taxi
ing any steps to build such q plant. the
company flrst set out to study serums
and their manufacture. A serum that
would produce the desired results-the
immunizing Of hogs from cholera, was
the object sought.
Major r. p. spilman, veteran live
stock agent for the company and ia
miliar with the various kinds and
breeds OF hogs, was assigned to the
task Of investigating the serum pro-
ject. Months were spent by him In his
Investigations. The result Of his work
10 1,ok ~ ,,f hot ha h1Yt
east Of the packing house proper and
south Of the beef plant Here one finds
huge shed divided into pens in which
the hogs used for treatment in the
making Of the serum and testing 1t. are
kept A series Of runways lead from the
pens to the serum plant proper. one Of
these leads to the rooms for bleeding
the cholera hog and another to the
place for hyperimmunizing the hog.
No greater care Is bestowed on hui
mans In the most modern hospital than
upon the hogs treated at the serum
plant The sanitation is an important
feature Of the entire plant. The pens
have concrete floors and water is used
lavishly In cleaning them and the
runways which are also concrete. What
is true Of the outside Is even more 50
Of the interior Of the serum plant it.
self.
mere everything Is eHdIIlltO III ali
immaculate white that glistens where
the light falls upon 1t. Floors are all
concrete and sewers are provided In
every room. The corners are rounded to
permit Of no dirt accommodating. A water
tap with hose is found In every room
and Is used every day. The building is
for the greater part like two structures,
for one part is given over to the prep
aration Of the virus and the other to
the manufacture Of serum. The en-
trance Of the hog is from a shackling
pen at the rear where the animal IL
washed with a hose and upon being
showed into the shrouding room. is
again washed shaved and shrouded to
prevent any Infection. Then 1t passes
into the bleeding room where the blood
is extracted and after being beaten up
to prevent coagulation, Is placed in
sterilized receptacles. The passage OF
the hog in and out Of the building is
by overhead rails and after leaving tho
shackling room it never touches the
floor.