400 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Mr. Thatcher pointed out that in number Iowa has 14 per cent of all 

 the hogs in the United States. In value 17 per cent of all hogs are found 

 in Iowa, but of all hog losses in the United States, Iowa bears the burden 

 of 25 per cent. This situation demands immediate and decisive action; 

 the entire industry is threatened, many regions report a loss of 40 per 

 cent of all hogs. The saving element in the situation is that these rav- 

 ages can be stopped. A means is at hand to absolutely prevent further 

 loss if its use is resolutely continued. This means is the anti hig-cholera 

 serum, and by its use lowana Farm has passed from a turmoil of con- 

 tagion and death to a condition of serene confidence that the $20,000 

 stock of hogs is safe. In effect, the only safe policy is to create and 

 maintain an immune herd by administering the simultaneous treatment 

 to every hog brought into the herd, and to every pig raised on the place, 

 some time before weaning. Since 1912 the lowana Farm has been work- 

 ing under this system, 1,500 pigs having been treated during this time, 

 some of them as young as eleven days old, and not a single head has been 

 lost from cholera, though in the midst of a badly-infested community. 



In his closing address Professor Kennedy declared that no permanent 

 progress can be made in eradicating hog cholera till the use of serum 

 becomes practically universal in infected regions. This general use of 

 serum will never come to pass until farmers develop perfect confidence 

 in the efficacy of the serum, and this confidence, in turn, awaits the time 

 when all serum on the market shall be standardized and shall be worthy 

 to be trusted. 



About 100 members remained in the room after the program of speak- 

 ers, to take part in the adjourned business meeting of the association. 

 The meeting was called at 9:30 o'clock. The plea made by Professor Ken- 

 nedy was of the sort calculated to incite to action and it bore definite 

 fruit before final adjournment. Mr. Thatcher urged legislation in regard 

 to federal inspection and standardization of all serums put upon the mar- 

 ket. At this point Dr. Stange called attention to the fact that certain 

 federal restrictions already controlled commercial serum plants and in- 

 vited Dr. Niles to describe the working of this law. The law provides in 

 effect that commercial serum plants doing an interstate business must 

 operate under a federal license. All licenses must be renewed annually, 

 the grounds for issuing licenses being the result of an annual inspection. 

 The quality of the serum is also tested from time to time. 



Professor Kennedy pointed out the shortcomings of this law. When we 

 use the simultaneous method we are using the disease — we are playing 

 with fire, and cannot risk poor serum. It will not do to get good serum 

 only part of the time; the only time when it is safe to stop is when every 

 drop of serum on the market is tested, bottled and sealed under federal 

 supervision. Then all serum will have a constant value, its use will have 

 a constant and uniform effect, farmers will grow to have trust in it and 

 permanent progress will be made possible. 



