The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-04-15
TESTING NEW HOG SERUM.
Success Of Experiment will Revoiu.
tionize Swine Industry.

Success Of Experiment will Reyoiu-
tionize Swine Industry
Drs. Charles w. DuyaI and Maurice
Couret, Tulane University professors
and Charity Hospital pathologists.
lett New Orleans recently for Ames,
iowa, where they will conduct d final
/ test of their serum for the immuniza-
ton OF swine from the dreaded
cholera. If they succeed in their mis-
son the farmers of the nation will re-
eotVe a great boon and the swine in
| dustry will be placed upon more
solid foundation. As Louisiana can
| raise swine cheaper and better than
any other state, she will profit chiefly
through the skill and effort OF her
scientists.
| DIR. Couret is the pioneer in the
| quest, and it was the need Of the state
which inspired his research. The boil
| Weevll had attacked cotton, and then
came war and reduced prices, sugar
faced the tariff threat, diversification
was being preached and its practice
had begun, and many undertook the
rearing of hogs. The industry prom
| ised well, but there was the menace of
aog cholera. The Louisiana plant
was turning out serum and selling it
at cost, but even at q lower price than
IN ether states it meant more than
30 cents to vaeeinate each hog, and
the dose was protection only for
limited time. The simultaneous treat
ment, which assured longer immunity,
required both seram and virus, and
was therefore costlier, and, besides,
required experts to administer it.
The psychologists in the medical
ranks devote themselves mostly to the
problems Of human ills, and few of
pthe veterinary Investigators are hae-
Theological experts. DR. Couret had
both mind and heart for the work,
and patient experiment at last found
its reward. He discovered d way of
treating and converting the virus into
a powder, Il single dose of which i'm
munized hog permanently. A
capsule inserted behind the ear dis
solves into the system, gives the an
inal a mild attack of the cholera, and
in about thirty days the hog is cholera
proof. All that is required is rea
sonable isolation during that month,
SO that the animal does not contract
genuine case Of the cholera to null
ify the dose and aggravate the disease.
The dose Of the CouTet powder can
be manufactured for fifteen cents,
and wholesale supply will cost consid-
erabIy less than half the present
temporary preventive. II Is
gift to the farmers.
DR. Duval joined in the search and
assisted iii it's elimination. Both SCI
entists are still at work upon the iden-
tification and isolation Of the ultra
germ, 50 inhnitesimal that
it defias detection. The separation Gf
the germ may lead To still more effect
i've methods Of combat, but the virus
powder VIII DOUBTLESS serve All praefar8sss "a
AND nassih III selss ises eslss years
come.
The Tan1es-P Picayune gave 9 mint oI q
tic discovery months ago, and it was L
formally presented To the medical and
scientific world iii the customary
manner. But that did not mean It's
general adoption and Introduction.
Drs. Couret and Duval went 20
w ashington and rendered the knoWi-
EDGE and use of the ilnmuhizing dose
10 the nation. The congressional
committee hesitated about the matter
5unttil its was informed that the Lolasi
ana experts were scientists IN the
ttruest sense Of the word, and desired
neither remuneration nor profit for
themselves. but were willing 10 turn
over their formula for free use
and manufacture under proper au
snices. This was followed BY prompt
request for demonstration to the sat
;sfaction OF the government scientists.
The test in Iowa was accordingly ar
ranged and the 0rIeanians have gone
thither to conduct the trials. the
Iowa experiment station is also le-
Gated at Ames, and has done much
work with hogs. As the powder has
proven its efficiency in experiments IN
New Orleans and at Baton Rouge u ls
almost positive the same results Will
be obtained with swine in Iowa.
AS soon as the hog serum matter is
settled. and the farmers enjoy the
full benefit OF the boon, pr. Couret
will likely undertake the conquest OF
the foot-and-mout disease and char
bon. the main foes Of the American
cattle business. The same prlnclple
will undoubtedly prove efficient, the
task consisting In the treatment of
the virus SO that 1t can be economical
III produced and safely handled.
: