238 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



effective methods of eradication are regarded as more practicable and 

 find greater favor in this country. 



CONFERENCES AND PUBLICITY ON TUBERCULOSIS ERADICATION. 



One major conference on tuberculosis was held at Concord, N. H., 

 June 12 and 13, 1923, and was attended by bureau and State officials, 

 practicing veterinarians, livestock owners, representatives of 

 breeders' associations, public health officials, county agents, and 

 others. Numerous State and other local meetings of veterinarians 

 were attended by representatives of the tuberculosis eradication 

 division. 



Farmers' Bulletin 1069, Tuberculosis in Livestock, was revised 

 during the year, and its distribution is being continued as a means 

 of giving information on this subject and arousing interest in tuber- 

 culosis eradication. 



Circulars, entitled Sidelights on Tuberculosis, were issued at 

 irregular intervals and were distributed to veterinarians actively 

 engaged in tuberculosis eradication. 



Numerous other articles relative to tuberculosis eradication were 

 prepared in the division and published in livestock and veterinary 

 periodicals. 



DIVISION OF HOG-CHOLERA CONTROL. 



Efforts to control losses from hog cholera and to reduce the num- 

 ber of outbreaks and centers of infection were continued through the 

 Division of Hog-Cholera Control, under Dr. U. G. Houck, chief. 



From reports gathered in the field the percentage of hogs de- 

 stroyed by cholera was indicated to be about 80 per cent of all 

 hogs killed b}' diseases of all kinds. On that basis the mortality 

 rate in swine due to hog cholera Avas 40.5 per 1,OUO, a reduction of 

 8.2 per 1,000 from the rate of tlit' year before. The number of hogs 

 on farms January 1, 1923, was 63,424,000, according to data gathered 

 by the the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, at an average valua- 

 tion of $11.46 a head. During the year ended April 30, 1923, therj 

 were destroyed by hog cholera 2,564,837 hogs, which, at the valua- 

 tion mentioned, made a total monetary loss of $29,393,032 from the 

 disease. These figures show the necessity for continued efforts to 

 control and reduce the still serious ravages of hog cholera. 



Approximately 80 veterinarians were maintained in the field up to 

 March 1, 1923. A considerable reduction in the appropriation for 

 1924 made it necessary for the division to reorganize its force and 

 reduce the number of men to conform with the funds available July 

 1, 1923, and to curtail and consolidate its activities in some States. 

 By the end of the fiscal year the force was reduced to about 47 

 inspectors. 



Bureau inspectors continued to assist practicing veterinarians in 

 the diagnosis of swine diseases and in the technic of serum admin- 

 istration. In sections where veterinary services were not readily 

 available they performed the inoculation of hogs. Advice and 

 information were given to swine growers as to the methods of pre- 

 venting infection and cleaning and disinfecting premises. 



Cooperation on the part of Stat" officials and educational forces 

 in general was quite satisfactory. County agents and other extension 

 workers lent their assistance in reporting outbreaks of cholera and 

 conducting educational work. It is regrettable, however, that many 



