Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-18
SWINE PLAGUE
BEING FOUGHT
EFFORTS TO COMBAT HOG cHoL-
ERA MEET WITH SUCCESS;
NEW CASES FOUND.

Efforts to combat hog cholera IN
Wapello county anu southern Iowa
are meeting with success says DR..
John Sfmonds, government repre-
sentative in this district. Dr. Sim
onds has several counties to look
after and makes Ottumwa his head
quarters.
Two new cases have been found
near Ottumwa In Center township.
and two are reported from Competine
township. wherever cases have been
found Dr.. Smionds suggests methods
for handling them and with local veter-
inarians aid in stamping out the swine
plague. The government expert does
not treat the hogs but acts in an al.
visory capacity and aids In instruct
ing the farmers in methods for pre-
vention Of the disease as well as IN
what to do for the safety Of the herds
where cases of cholera have been de-
veloped.
CAN BE REDUCED.
The Weekly News Letter puo-
lished by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture has the following
on hog cholera control: n
although hog cholera can not be
completely eradicated in the United
States, under present conditions,
losses from the disease can be mater
Tally reduced by education and organi-
cation OF hog raisers in the applica-
ton of proper sanitary measures and
the proper treatment of hogs with
anti.hog- cholera serum. This has been
shown by the results obtained by the
Bureau Of Animal Industry OF the
United States Department OF Agrlcul-
ture in experimental work in hog
cholera control carried on in num-
Der of counties during the past four
years.
THRivEs UNDER CONTROL.
zone of the important results. is
the fact that the work while effective
in reducing the disease, was not re-
pressive while in progress on the hog
raising industry. On the contrary the
industry thrived in the experimental
counties to a greater. degree than IN
adjacent counties in which no control
work was under way.
Actual statistics were taken in the
experimental counties and careful es-
Inmates were made in the adjacent
counties. These show that in one
group Of three counties where the
control work has been under way four
years the percentage of loss from hog
cholera has remained constantly from
one.fourth to two-fifths the percent
age OF loss in the Is surrounding
counties. In another group of expert
mental counties the average percent
age Of loss as compared with that in
|1s surrounding counties was reduced
from approximately nine-tenths in
1913 to less than one-third in 1914 and
to about one-sixteenth in 1915.
NEEDS IN COMBATING CHOLERA.
Specialists who have supervised
the control work of the department
reach the conclusion that while the
eradication Of hog cholera can not be
expected for considerable time, the
material reduction by the use of the
serum Of the enormous losses which
annually are caused by the disease IS
entirely practicable. The essentials for
success in combating the disease. they
point out, are interest on the part OF
hog raisers and knowledge, of the dis
ease: organization which will facili
tate exchange of Information as to
outbreaks. and secure assistance; ser
UNI at reasonable prices and easy &C
cess; and the available service in the
community of persons skilled In ad
ministering serum"