DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 157 



aged as it natiirall}' adds value to student instruction as well as serving 

 the people of Michigan. Tliere is need and measures should be found to 

 permit us to inaugurate, investigation work u]ton a larger scale upon 

 problems incident to forage and plant poisoning, the so-called tirand 

 Traverse disease, poultry diseases, parasitic disturbances, diseases of 

 swine; and, indeed, numerous economic problems in ])rophylactic medi- 

 cine are worthty of consideration by the ^>terinary division. 



Anti-Hog Cholera Serum Manufacture. Beginning July 1, 1908, the 

 College undertook to manufacture and distribute anti-hog cholera serum 

 under the supervision of the Department of Bacteriology and Hygiene. 

 This work, September 1, 1915, was transferred to the recently estab- 

 lished Department of Animal Pathology, thus becoiuing a part of the 

 Veterinary division. The plant has continuously manufactured anti- 

 hog cholera serum for the benefit of Michigan swine growers, and dur- 

 ing^ the past five years that Mr. W. S. Bobbins has had immediate charge 

 of production, the output has annually increased from 135,000 cubic cen- 

 timeters to an amount in excess of 648,000 c. c. for the fiscal year just 

 terminated, with a reduction in price from four cents per c. c. to .Oiy^ 

 cents per c. c. ; and this without any expense to the College as mainten- 

 ance, equipment, salaries, etc., have been taken care of through receipts. 

 That this demand for serum will continue is unquestioned, as farmers 

 are fast becoming familiar with the value of biologic therapeutic agents 

 in combating infectious disease, an education which is rapidly spread- 

 ing through the influence of county agriculturists, county live stock 

 agents, veterinarians and others. 



The serum distribution is indisputably of great economic value to an- 

 imal husbandry and indirectly to meat food consumers. If its distribu- 

 tion is to be continued under public control at prices so favorable, and 

 the writer hopes that it may, the work should not only be encouraged but 

 advanced in every feasible manner. A request has already been placed 

 in the hands of the Board for permission to enlarge the anti-hog cholera 

 serum plant and we trust that this petition will be favorably considered 

 with a further provision for making arrangements not only for increas- 

 ing the output but for facilitating provision for an adequate bleeding 

 room, immunizing quarters, storage room, improved sanitary arrange- 

 ments, further equipment, etc., all of which the plant can take care of 

 through the output. Again, I would ask that measures be provided for 

 putting the plant on a recognized footing through obtaining federal li- 

 cense. We do not seek this government recognition for purposes of in- 

 creasing the sales or unloading a surplus through interstate shipment, 

 for I maintain the plant should be conducted for benefit of Michigan 

 swine growers. The suggestion is with a view to placing our product 

 above reproach and giving it that status its quality warrants. 



Extension Work. During the past year members of the division have 

 engaged whenever possible in Extension work, furnishing information 

 relative to the economic importance of controlling animal disease and in 

 so doing have taken active part in grange meetings, institute work, 

 farmers week schedules, agricultural meetings and veterinary gather- 

 ings. Considering it is work of utmost importance both to the division 

 and to agricultural progress, it offers another argument for increasing 

 our teaching force thus facilitating its greater efficiency. 



