502 DISEASES OF SWINE 



somewhat smaller than these, was injected with 50 c.c. Thirty- 

 six spring gilts, averaging about 200 pounds, received 50 c.c. each. 

 Twenty fall pigs, that would weigh from 25 to 30 pounds, were 

 given 20 c.c. each. 



Six spring boars, averaging about 175 pounds each in weight, 

 1 old sow, 4 of the 200-pound spring gilts, and 30 of the fall 

 pigs were left untreated to serve as checks. 



Final reports on this herd show most positive evidence in 

 favor of the use of serum in a herd even after hog-cholera has made 

 its appearance. The disease had already been present on this 

 farm several days when the treatment was given, and one hog had 

 already died. If temperatures had been taken at the time of 

 injection it is highly probable that at least 50 per cent, of the hogs 

 treated would have shown a high temperature. In spite of this fact, 

 the official report on the herd shows that only 4 of the treated 

 gilts and 3 of the fall pigs died. Two other treated gilts showed 

 symptoms of the disease, but recovered. The balance of the 

 treated animals remained well and in perfect condition. 



This in itself is a very pleasing statement, but it is made much 

 the more noteworthy when we consider the outcome in the un- 

 treated checks. All of the 30 fall pigs left untreated died. Four 

 of the 6 boars died, so also did the old sow and 2 of the 4 gilts. 

 The other 2 gilts sickened, but recovered. 



More convincing proof of the value of hog-cholera serum as a 

 method of treatment for cholera could hardly be asked. This 

 report would be the more positive in its assurance if the tem- 

 peratures of the treated hogs had been recorded. They would 

 unquestionably have shown that a large number of these animals 

 were sick on the day of injection. It was due to the serum alone 

 that the death-rate was held down to practically nothing as com- 

 pared with that in the hogs that received no serum. 



Hog-cholera serum we will find, the more we experiment with 

 it, is not only a preventive for cholera, but it will also save thou- 

 sands of cases even after the disease has made its appearance 

 among the herd. At the first sign of cholera, get a man with a 

 reliable serum on the farm and have every hog treated. Those 

 that show a high temperature to receive serum alone, while those 

 that do not show any fever may well be given the simultaneous 



