FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IX. 645 



ernraent, and I told them at the start we would do everything in 

 our power to enforce their requirements, in order to get through 

 this as quickly as possible ; and I think when the history of this 

 outbreak is written, the state of Iowa will be credited with hand- 

 ling it better than any other state that was infected ; and if we do 

 get that credit, it reflects back to the government authorities that 

 the politicians are trying to find fault with now because we have 

 simply done what they said we should do. 



The Chair: We will now hear Doctor Stange on "The Hog 

 Cholera Situation. ' ' 



HOG CHOLERA IN IOWA. 



DR. C. H. STANGE, AMES, IOWA. 



Members of the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Association, Gentlemen: 

 I am glad of this privilege of meeting with you. It is noticeable that 

 you have had one or more addresses on a veterinary subject at your last 

 few meetings. If our profession has not been delivering the desired 

 service, it is your duty to reveal the fact and indicate your wishes. If 

 we cannot benefit the live stock industry, then there is no more excuse 

 for our existence than there would be for the medical profession if the 

 human race did not profit by the presence of doctors in our midst. Our 

 interests are the same, although our duties are different and quite well 

 defined. It has been my desire to see members of the veterinary pro- 

 fession become better acquainted with representatives of your industry, 

 and offer assistance and counsel. The same should be equally true of 

 veterinarians seeking the counsel of stockmen. The entire situation lies 

 in the palm of your hand, to do with as you wish, and the veterinary 

 profession would be glad to have your suggestions. 



The work of the State Biological Laboratory during the past eighteen 

 months has been based largely on the idea that the problem confronting 

 us was not one of a profession, political party, class or single industry, 

 but one concerning the state as a whole. Certainly, the loss of fifteen 

 to twenty-five million dollars' worth of a single class of live stock during 

 one year in Iowa must be a question which concerns every citizen of 

 the state. It would be very unfortunate if foot and mouth disease should 

 be added to the already too long list of contagious diseases affecting 

 animals, but in any event hog cholera will probably remain the most 

 significant disease of animals in our history of Iowa. Any plan for 

 suppressing hog cholera, therefore, must be broad and free from detri- 

 mental influences, political, factional or otherwise. It must be based upon 

 scientific principles, practically applied, and enforced with judgment. 



In Europe, a very thorough and efficient organization of sanitary offi- 

 cers is maintained in order to check the many contagious diseases of 

 animals which exist there. Our states have not reached the stage when 



