Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-03
HOG CHOLERA SERUM IS BEING MADE
IN OTTUMWA AT THE PACKING PLANT
Farmers and Stock Men Provided With Remedy for
Devastating Plague in Their Own Community;
An Interesting Institution in Operation

The side Of the building devoted to
making the serum Is duplicate OF the
virus section. laboratory is provided
however on this side Of the building
and leading from 1t chill room where
the virus and serum are kept at
temperature below so degrees. The
tables used are special glass prepara-
ton. Two sterilizing plants or ovens
are used, one for each department. The
receptacles and instruments are steril-
lied both before and after using and
gauze is used freely for straining the
blood and covering the receptacle to
prevent anything Of foreign character
getting into the vessels. But one man
is permitted In the various rooms
while the work Is being carried on and
tie garments used are supplied freshly
sterilized each day. A waste container
is placed In each room and this Is
emptied each day In larger container
and brought to the boiler rooms where
1t Is burned. These containers are all
covered.
One interesting part of the serum is
the department for hyper immuning
hogs. This room communicates with an
outside runway divided into two SEC
lions. one for the hog before treatment
and the other for those treated. The
animal does not touch the floor here,
being let out of the chute into port
able crate. The virus or cholera blood
Ia injected into large vein in the ear
according to the weight Of the animal
About 500 cubic centimeters or one pint
per hundred pounds Is used. When
treated the animal leaves by another
chute. Particular pains to keep the
room sanitary are taken here and a.
quantity Of disinfectant Is always kept
handy.
When visited by Courier represen-
tative, DR.. w. v. Ellis who Is In charge
Of the serum manufacture, was engag-
ed In making test on a car load Of
pigs just received from Kansas City.
These were weighed and given treat
ment to test the serum that had been
made at the plant In order to determine
It's potency The test was made in lots
Of eight pigs. two Of them being given
virus or cholera blood only: two re-
ceived fifteen cubic centimeters Of
serum and the same dose Of virus two
got twenty centimeters Of serum and
the same Of virus and two were given
twenty Ave centimeters Of serum and
virus.
The two receiving the single treat
ment or virus only. should sicken in
seven days and die in fifteen days, The
others should remain we'll II the serum
Is effective. The difference In the dos
what should be a dose to obtain the
best results and when determined the
dose varies with the weight OF the hog
based on the hundred pounds. The
temperature and condition Of the test
pigs and other hogs that are treated in
the course Of making the serum, is
taken daily and they are watched care
fully as the blood Is taken according to
the temperature Of the hogs Immune
hogs only are used in making the
serum.
Every time batch Of serum is made,
1t Is given serial number, bottled and
placed In tho chill room and no two
serials are allowed to get mixed. Each
has it's number and every item Of his
tory connected with the making OF the
various lots is kept Of record.
DR.. Ellis who has charge Of the plant
Is former government employee and
an expert In animal industry. He was
employed by the local Arm only after
thew had seen his work and knew his
record