578 IOWA DEPARTMENT OV" AGRICULTURE 



ing the danger of infection. I would advise either one of two loca- 

 tions to inject the serum, one is the auxiliary space between the front 

 legs, and the other on the inside of the thighs between the hind legs. 

 I do not think it is necessary to inject deep into the muscles. Absorp- 

 tion takes place just as readily where it is injected under the skin into 

 the subcutaneous tissue, and in this way you will not have so much 

 lameness as where the injections are made deep into the muscles, by 

 this method of injecting It leaves a bad spot in the ham, this the 

 packers object to as the Government inspectors compel them to cut out 

 these blemished spots which causes quite a waste to the expensive part 

 of the meat. 



It has been the custom of some veterinarians to vaccinate old hogs 

 back of the ears by placing a rope noose or loop around the upper jaw, 

 back of their tusks, then fastening the other end of the rope to some 

 strong object. They will lay their entire weight back against the rope, 

 but will not struggle much. This is also a very easy and safe way of 

 handling pregnant sows. After having your hogs confined in this man- 

 ner, they may be very easily vaccinated behind the ear in the loose 

 skin. This location, however, should be more thoroughly washed and 

 cleansed than where the injection is made under the belly, for at this 

 point the skin seems to have more sebaceous glands than any other 

 part of the body. The depression behind the ears makes it harder to get 

 at and I find that you will have more abscesses by injection at this 

 location than at any other point. I therefore only recommend this 

 method in pregnant sows. I think where abortion follows it is more 

 the cause of rough handling than the effects of the serum. 



I think the time is at hand when every veterinarian should lend his 

 aid to have a national law passed requiring every serum plant to be 

 under inspection, compelling each plant to make serum under the gov- 

 ernment instructions, giving the inspectors power to collect serum at 

 any time from stock on hand that is ready for the market. This should 

 be welcomed by every legitimate serum concern that aims to sell only 

 potent serum. 



Misuse of serum as has been practiced by some veterinarians (if not 

 corrected) will cause a reaction among the hog raisers that will dis- 

 credit the serum whenever it is used. For instance, one man would 

 vaccinate the sick one, as well as the well ones, and guarantee them 

 all to live for one year; others would vaccinate those that they knew 

 were sick for no other reason than to consume as much serum as possible, 

 being paid by the cubic centimeter for their work. These veterinarians, 

 I am so glad to say, are only a small minority, yet there is consider- 

 able carelessness among veterinarians in general, in regard to vaccin- 

 ating every thing saying that they are paying for the serum, and it 

 will be their loss if they die. In such a case a veterinarian may be 

 excused for doing it, providing he is vaccinating in a neighborhood where 

 the farmers understand its use. But I think where one is just beginning 

 to vaccinate in a new and skeptical neighborhood, he had better not 

 vaccinate anything that shows sickness or has a high temperature, for 

 the sick ones will usually die and they will count this against the 

 serum, which will materially cut down the percent of hogs saved, and 



