HOG CHOLERA AND SERUM 93 



the total absence from loss of animals by such practice fully justifies, in 

 our minds, the added expense thus incurred. And especially is this 

 true where the treatment is being given to pure-bred, registered stock. 



Our observations in treating breeding stock have led us to adopt the 

 following practice: We never give the simultaneous treatment to bred 

 sows, nor do we breed sows within two or three weeks after treating 

 them. Further, boars just treated should not be put into immediate serv- 

 ice. Time should be allowed for the immediate after effects of the 

 treatment to wear off the animals to regain their normal and active 

 condition. 



Results of Treatment. The results of our experience in following out 

 this practice have removed from our minds all fear of cholera epidemics. 

 We do not hesitate to move animals from one house or lot to another 

 even though we know that the latter may have contained hogs that had 

 had cholera and are known to be thoroughly infected with cholera germs. 

 And we have never had an animal become infected by such handling. 

 Further, we do not fear to introduce new hogs into our herd regardless 

 of where they may come from. During the entire show seasons of 1912 and 

 1913 none of our hogs were troubled with the disease, and after the fairs 

 were over we did not hesitate to return our show animals immediately 

 back into the lots with our other hogs. 



Further Tests. We have carried our tests still farther to prove the 

 efficacy of the simultaneous treatment in producing permanent or active 

 immunity. This was done to demonstrate to the breeders and farmers 

 of this locality how cholera epidemics could be prevented. 



In August, 1912, one of our young barrows was placed in a herd of 

 hogs in which an outbreak of cholera had occurred. He remained there 

 fifty-five days without contracting the disease and then was brought back 

 and placed again among our own hogs. 



The second of January, 1913, we sent out three other barrows to be 

 put among hogs that were dying from cholera. These three barrows re- 

 mained among those sick hogs for more than six weeks, eating and 

 sleeping with them, but not one of the three became infected or showed 

 any ill effects from the rigid test under which they had been placed. 



Further, at the International Live Stock Exposition in Chicago in 

 1912 the writer purchased six choice gilts to be shipped us and placed 

 in our breeding herd. Knowing the infected condition of the Union 

 Stock Yards, it was stipulated that those gilts be given the simultaneous 

 treatment before shipment. Through oversight on the part of the man 

 left in charge of the animals they were not given the treatment, and 

 were shipped immediately after the close of the Exposition and were 

 placed at once among the other animals of our herd which numbered at that 

 time something over 240 hogs and pigs. Only a very few days elapsed after 

 their arrival before those gilts showed distinct evidences of cholera infection. 

 Three of the animals had become so badly infected that it was impossible 

 to save them. The others we were fortunate in pulling through by a 

 liberal injection of serum. The important point in connection with this 

 incident is this: Though all of those six gilts had the cholera, and three 

 of them died from the disease, yet not one of the 240 immune animals 

 among which they were placed, and with which they had been eating 

 and sleeping, became infected, or have we seen any evidence or trace of 

 cholera among our animals since, and this was over a year ago. 



Such tests as these are our warrant for the conclusions we have reached 

 that hog cholera can be prevented, and by its prevention be completely 

 eradicated. And the results we have attained are being repeated by 

 numerous other breeders who have adopted the system of simultaneously 

 treating their animals and have given the method fair and intelligent 

 handling. 



Immunizing a "Business Policy. With us the permanent immunizing of 

 our hogs is a business proposition pure and simple. The cost is strictly 

 an investment in the way of the purchase of protection that will insure 

 against losses that might reach into the thousands of dollars if we were not 

 BO protected. 



