56 . 



• 



suits, if the herd is infected, is anti-hog cholera serum . . . 

 Prompt use of the serum in an infected herd will save most and 

 possibly all the herd. As a preventive treatment in sound herds, 

 serum will protect every hog against cholera." 



Again quoting from this Circular : 



"Vaccination is not advised in any locality unless there is 

 cholera present in the herd, or it is exposed to the infection. Gen- 

 eral vaccination of all hogs would be a needless expense and 

 might spread cholera in localities free from the disease." 



All this goes to show that the presence of hog cholera should 

 be demonstrated beyond all question before the introduction and 

 use of virus is permitted. It is fully realized that restrictions 

 placed on the use of virus has met and will continue to meet with 

 considerable criticism, but a large part of this criticism is unjust. 

 That a strict control of the use of hog cholera virus is imperative 

 is borne out by the following quotation taken from the report of 

 the Committee on Hbg Cholera Control read at the twenty-fourth 

 annual meeting of the United States Live Stock Sanitary Asso- 

 ciation, Chicago, Illinois, November 29, to December 1, 1920. 



"Your committee repeats with emphasis the statement in the 

 report made last year to this association on the same subject, that 

 a closer restriction must be exercised over the distribution of hog 

 cholera virus. It is realized that efforts along these lines on the 

 part of state officials mig-ht subject them to unjust criticism; but 

 control over virus as well as the curbing of incompetent services 

 in the use of serum and virus, is a matter that demands urgent 

 attention by the authorities vested with legal powers to deal with 

 these abuses. The sale of virus should not be permitted within 

 any state except to those duly qualified and holding permits from 

 the proper officials." 



*Tt is obvious for the serum manufacturer and the practicing 

 veterinarian to urge general vaccination of hogs, but officials 

 interested "in the ultimate eradication of hog cholera know that 

 the problem involves other phases besides promiscuous inocula- 

 tion. We must couple the treatment with earnest and sincere 

 efforts regarding quarantine, sanitation, the cleaning and disinfec- 

 tion of premises and the proper disposal of dead animals. . The 

 swine grower must realize that this class of animals requires as 

 much care and attention in the way of diet, housing, etc., as do the 

 rest of his live stock. A greater degree of attention, on his part, 

 to the hygienic conditions of his premises will often prove an ef- 

 fective means of avoiding losses from disease, including hog 

 cholera." 



There is a noticeable disposition on the part of a large majority 

 of the swine raisers in the Territory to consider that the hog 

 can dispose of most anything in the ^ way of feed and live and 

 thrive under all kinds of conditions. The present hog is an un- 

 natural animal in that he is the product of intensive breeding 

 toward the elimination of surplus bone and a super-production of 



