98 HOG CHOLEEA 



necessary. The points to be determined are 

 whether the hog has been vigorous and healthy, 

 and whether this condition still prevails at bleed- 

 ing time. Temperature readings, clinical obser- 

 vations and comparative weights are the sources 

 of information, each being employed as circum- 

 stances direct. The average hyper shows a mod- 

 erate and transitory fluctuation of temperature 

 immediately following the dose of virus, and he 

 may eat indifferently for a day or two, but as a 

 rule his appetite is unimpaired, and he continues 

 to gain in weight about a pound per day. If a 

 hog's appetite has been greedy during the last 

 seven days preceding the date of bleeding ; if there 

 has been no loss in weight or outward evidence of 

 sickness ; and if the temperature is normal when 

 bleeding time arrives, we consider the animal a 

 fit subject to produce serum. 



Bleeding for serum. The hog is confined in a 

 portable crate and wheeled to the preparation 

 room. Bleeding is to take place from the tail 

 which now requires thorough mechanical cleans- 

 ing. Warm water and antiseptic soap are applied 

 freely and a stiff scrub-brush is used to work up 

 a lather. After several minutes of scrubbing, the 

 tail, and a circular area surrounding its attach- 

 ment, are carefully shaved. The body of the ani- 

 mal is then wet to settle dust that may be con- 

 tained in its coat, and a cloth dampened in anti- 



