1913.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 207 



experiment station staff who shall be able to devote practically 

 his entire time to the study of pathological problems that are 

 pressing for solution. 



As mentioned in the report of last year, there is an unusual 

 amount of hog cholera in the State as compared with former 

 years. It is assuming alarming proportions, more especially 

 in herds fed upon " city " swill or garbage. Its cause in these 

 herds is to be attributed to an infection following the ingestion 

 of uncooked pork scrap, from sources where cholera exists, that 

 finds its way into the swill barrel of the hotel, boarding house 

 or private house, and finally to the trough of the hogs. Once an 

 animal of the herd becomes affected it spreads contagion rap- 

 idly to healthy animals with which it is kept. 



The department, in co-operation with Mr. Fred F. Walker, 

 Com'missioner of the Department of Animal Industry, under 

 whose jurisdiction all contagious animal diseases come, has un- 

 dertaken some investigations to determine more accurate 

 methods for the diagnosis of cholera in the hog, and its cure 

 and control by the use of anti-hog cholera serum. 



In December last, in company with Mr. Walker, I attended 

 the meeting of the State live stock sanitary boards at Chicago, 

 where means and methods for the preparation of serum and the 

 control of the disease were fully discussed by the highest author- 

 ities in the country. Since then serum has been used upon sev- 

 eral lots of hogs, in which cholera was known to exist, to deter- 

 mine its value as a curative and preventive agent. The herds 

 are located in the middle part of the State so as to permit of 

 occasional inspection without the sacrifice of too much time. 



While the work upon hog cholera has not progressed suffi- 

 ciently to warrant a full report at this time, I feel justified in 

 predicting that by the use of properly prepared serum, under 

 certain conditions, we shall be able to greatly lessen the annual 

 loss to the swine owners from this disease, and in the end suc- 

 ceed in protecting against its ravages to the extent that it may 

 be made one of the most profitable branches of animal industry 

 in the Commonwealth. 



Already steps have been taken to prepare, in an experimental 

 way, small quantities of anti-hog cholera serum in the depart- 

 ment. If the results of (he experiment seem to warrant it, it 



