The Bulletin. 87 



As to the treatment of hog cholera, there are a great many "sure hug 

 cholera cures" on the market, so advertised ; but we have never found any- 

 thing that we consider of any value in treating a case of genuine hog cholera, 

 so do not advise any treatment at all, believing that there will be as many 

 recoveries without treatment as there will be with any treatment we liuow of. 

 However, we do advise giving the hogs comfortable quarters, clean, fresh 

 water at all times, and encouraging them to eat some easily digested food. 



Vaccinating against hog cholera has passed from the exyerimental stage and 

 can now be stated to be a sure preventive of hog cholera. This is shown by 

 the results obtained on the field, where proper care has been exercised in 

 vaccinating the hogs. 



From our experience, we believe that where the results have not been what 

 was expected, it was due to some cause other than the nonpotency of the 

 serum. In some cases, to the failure to inject enough serum ; in others, the 

 serum was injected into hogs showing symptoms of cholera. In every instance 

 where we have gone into a herd of hogs, even though cholera had already 

 appeared, we have, by eliminating all hogs that showed any symptoms what- 

 ever of cholera, and those showing a temperature as high as 104° F., saved 

 from 95 per cent to 100 per cent of the hogs injected. 



There are two methods of vaccinating hogs. One is the serum alone method ; 

 the other the simultaneous method. The difference between the two methods 

 is that in the serum alone method we only inject the anti-hog cholera serum ; 

 whereas in the simultaneous method we inject the anti-hog cholera serum 

 and at the same time inject a small amount of virulent blood. So far 

 we have used onlj' the serum alone method, for we do not believe it advisable to 

 send to the laity the virulent blood to make the simultaneous injection. 



The difference in the effect of the two methods is that the serum alone 

 method confers immunity for a much shorter period, lasting from six to eight 

 weeks ; while the simultaneous method confers immunity for a period of six 

 months to a lifetime. But, when this method is used under the best condi- 

 tions, there is a loss of 3 per cent to 5 per cent of the hogs with cholera. That 

 is to say, that 3 per cent to 5 per cent of the hogs will develop hog cholera 

 and die. 



It is not advisable to wait until cholera has made its appearance in your 

 herd before you vaccinate them, but this should be done as soon as you hear 

 that cholera is in your community. If this is done, it can be warded off and 

 prevented from making its appearance into the herd vaccinated and by the 

 time the serum has lost its protective power the disease will most likely have 

 run its course. If the proper means have been taken to clean up and disinfect 

 the infested premises, there should be no great danger of c-holera gaining 

 entrance into the herd that has been treated with the serum. But, if the 

 proper precautions have not been used to get rid of the infection in the com- 

 munity, it would be advisable to make the second and even the third in- 

 jection. 



When the serum is used in herds where cholera has already appeared, it is 

 advisable to leave the ones injected in the same lot for two or three weeks. 

 If this is done the immunity will last much longer. All of the well hogs should 

 then be thoroughly disinfected with one of the coal-tar disinfectants and 

 removed to noninfected quarters. The lot and pens where they have been 

 should be thoroughly disinfected and every possible means taken to get rid of 

 the infection. All hogs that have died with cholera should either be burned 

 or buried deep and covered with lime. In no case should a dead carcass, be 

 left to the buzzards, for we know that the buzzard is one of our worst agents 

 in distributing hog cholera germs. The germs are also distributed by the 

 water streams; by people going from an infected premise to a noninfected 

 one, in this way carrying the hog cholera germ on their shoes and clothing. 



To inject the serum it is necessary to have a hypodermic syringe, preferably 

 one of 20 cc. or 30 cc. capacity. The sertim should be injected into the arm- 

 pits or into the muscles on the side of the neck after thoroughly cleansing the 

 skin at the point where the injection is to be made, with a 5 per cent solution 

 of carbolic acid. 



The North Carolina Department of Agriculture has for some time prepared 

 the serum and distributed it, through the State Veterinarian, to the swine 



