FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI. 523 



the first stage of hog cholera. If you use serum on sick animals you 

 will not get good results. If you use it on well animals or on those 

 which are just beginning to show fever temperature, you will get good 

 results. If you have bad results, we know that it was used on sick ani- 

 mals, or was not potent, or was given in insufficient doses. You can not 

 counteract exposure to hog cholera if you use an insufficient dose. It 

 must be used in sufficient doses on well animals, or in early stages of the 

 disease. If used in that way, you will invariably get good results, if 

 you use a good serum. We have found that true in all of the counties 

 in which the Bureau is operating this year. We have found it true in 

 the experiment station herds, and it holds true everywhere. In the 

 private practice of the veterinarian, when he has used good serum he 

 has good results. I saw a veterinarian who said he had treated eight 

 or nine thousand hogs with good results. There is no question but hog 

 cholera can be eradicated if you go about it in the right way. We use 

 the thermometer to determine whether they are in the early stages or 

 not. A number of animals will show a rising temperature of 105, 106 

 or 107 degrees; and to all other appearances look well. Those animals 

 that show those temperatures and no other symptoms are generally saved 

 by the serum treatment, if they are given a sufficient dose. 



R. M. Gunn: Would the difference in temperature make any 

 difference in the dose? 



Dr. Niles : Yes, sir. The temperature of every animal should 

 be taken, and those animals showing normal temperature receive 

 a normal dose. In the ease of animals showing 104: degrees you 

 are not quite sure whether it means fever or not, but I would 

 increase the dose somewhat. If it runs up to 105 or 106 degrees, 

 I would increase the dose by half, and you will get good results 

 on a great many of those, although the Bureau of Animal Indus- 

 try has never recommended the serum as a cure for cholera. How- 

 ever, it does cure a good many animals in the tirst stage of the 

 disease. But if an animal shows in addition loss of appetite, or 

 reels when it walks, you might as well save the serum. If it is 

 well with the exception of showing some fever, you will get good 

 results. 



Q. Is there any way of knowing whether the serum is potent 

 or not except by trying it on your own hogs? 



Dr. Niles: There is no way of knowing except by testing it. 

 You would have to buy from a inanufacturer whom you could 

 trust. 



Q. Can you accurately diagnose hog sickness? 



Dr. Niles: It is not always eas3^ to diagnose hog cholera early; 

 there is not much trouble after the disease has progressed in the 

 herd. If a herd of hogs is showing indications of hog cholera, 



