280 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Mucli more security is felt now in raising hogs; the last census 

 shows a decided increase in swine valuation — it is now |1 5,594,000 

 which is nearly double the valuation in 1900. Most of the security 

 has been brought about by a better understanding of hog cholera. 

 This disease would often wipe out a good herd of hogs in a few days 

 and the owner was helpless to prevent or cure the disease. In anti- 

 hog cholera serum we have a safe and efficient means of prevention. 

 Much more can be accomplished now than in former times by care- 

 ful sanitary measures. Most hog raisers know how the disease is 

 spread and can fight it successfully with sanitary measures. More 

 might be done in this line. There is a tendency to depend too much 

 on medicine and vaccination even by those intelligently interested. 

 Pennsylvania still uses the serum method of vaccination alone and 

 then only in infected herds. Many other states are still practicing 

 the simultaneous method, in most cases, it will be observed, that 

 the disease is more widely spread than it was before vaccination was 

 discovered. The simultaneous method of vaccination may be good 

 for the individual breeder, but for the State and county at large 

 there can be no doubt of its being a menace to the hog raising in- 

 dustry when it is used indiscriminately. 



In the simultaneous method of vaccination, the virus is given to 

 produce hog cholera, then the serum is given to check the disease 

 and make it run a mild course. The nearer the victim comes to 

 dying and lives, the more sure are his chances for obtaining a last- 

 ing immunity. Every farm upon which the simultaneous method of 

 vaccination is used, may be considered an infected farm and the dis- 

 ease can be spread from such farms in the same way as from afar, 

 where the disease has occurred accidentally. If serum alone is used 

 in an infected herd, the immunity is just as lasting as where the dis- 

 ease is produced purposely by injecting virus. The simultaneous 

 method of treatment would not be so bad if its use were confined to 

 infected herds only. In these it is not necessary for the reason that 

 the disease will be contracted accidentally. Where virus is used 

 on sound and uninfected herds, the premises become infected and 

 should be looked upon as a menace to hogs in the neighborhood. 

 The more herds vaccinated in this way, the greater the dnnger to the 

 hog raising community, unless the system is continued as far as the 

 industry extends. The simultaneous method of vaccination may be 

 used safely under certain conditions; these conditions can't be fol- 

 lowed profitably or safely at present by the average hog raiser. The 

 Stnte furnishes serum free to the farmers where the disease exists. 

 It must be used by one who knows the disease and has been trained 

 in administering the remedy. 



Rabies is found in most all section of Pennsylvania. It affects all 

 livestock and occasionally poultry. Carnivorous animals are the 

 most predisposed to it and are the ones that spread it. There has 

 been nothing new discovered in reference to handling this disease. 

 The Laboratory diagnosis is considered positive. It is believed 

 that but few mistakes are made in ascertaining whether the animal 

 was or was not affected with the disease. Wliere a case of rabies is 

 suspected, the heiid of the animal may be sent to the Laboratory of 

 the State Livestock Sanitary Board in Philadelphia and within 

 twenty-four hours the shipper can be notified definitely whether or 

 not the case is rabies. This information is frequently asked for and 



