BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 379 



siderably more than 1,000,000 doses of hog-cholera serum have been 

 manufactured and applied in all of the various States combined. 

 The results of the practical application of this serum are reported 

 by State officials generally as being very satisfactory. In no case do 

 State authorities report a loss oi more than 20 per cent on the aver- 

 age among serum-treated animals, and in most cases the loss is very 

 much less than this. Probably if the serum were applied always bv 

 State officials only after careful examination of the herds before 

 treatment, the percentage of loss in exposed herds would not exceed 

 5 per cent, if indeed it reached this figure. 



The various States now have, in the aggregate, a total annual ap- 

 propriation for the manufacture and application of hog-cholera 

 serum of $100,000. The outlook for the ultimate control and possi- 

 blj' the complete eradication of hog cholera is now brighter than it 

 has been at any time since the disease reached its present state of 

 severity in this country. 



FEDERAL CONTROL OF HOG-CHOLERA SERUM. 



As the fact that serum from hyperimmunized hogs is a reliable 

 agent for protecting hogs from hog cholera has become known to 

 fai-mers, there has been a constantly increasing demand for this 

 serum. In fact, this demand has been so great that few if any 

 States have been able to meet it. The result of this has been the or- 

 ganization of a considerable number of privately owned plants for 

 manufacturing this serum. It was not possible during Ihe past 

 fiscal year to test the proprietary serums on the market and to report 

 the results, as authorized by Congress, but work looking to this end 

 is now in progress. Inasmuch as antihog-cholera serum is to be 

 used by State officials for eradicating hog cholera, it appears that the 

 Federal Government, through the Secretary of Agriculture, should 

 be given legal authority to supervise the manufacture of serum pre- 

 pared in this country for interstate commerce in a manner simihir to 

 that already vested in the United States Public Health Service for 

 similar products intended to be used in human medicine. Such regu- 

 lation could not work to the disadvantage of reputable manufac- 

 turers, but rather would be an aid to them in insuring what they 

 desire, namely, an efficacious serum. While not interfering with the 

 business of reputable manufacturers, Federal supervision would tend 

 to eliminate any persons who miglit attempt to defraud farmers by 

 placing worthless material on the market. 



PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF TUBERCULIN AND MALLEIN. 



During the fiscal year 329,771 doses of tuberculin were sent out to 

 State officers to be used in testing cattle for tuberculosis, and 135.(i99 

 doses of mallein were likewise furnished for testing horses and mules 

 for glanders. 



PROJECTED WORK. 



In addition to continuing the routine work, such research work as 

 remains inconii)lete will bo continued. It is contemplated that a 

 considerable amount of time will be spent during the fiscal year 191.'5 

 in the study of questions relating to the eradicaton of hog cholera 



