138 FoHTT Yeaks' Experience of a Practical Hog Man. 



mand for serum and virus becomes large and urgent the 

 calls could be met and the product sent out would be pure 

 and potent. This comes within the business of the state. 

 To be sure there are numerous commei'cial plants manufac- 

 turing serum and virus, but these likewise should be 

 brought under state or national supervision to insure the 

 excellence of their product. 



That the work of treating hogs should be done by one 

 thoroughly acquainted with the disease and competent to 

 give the treatment should go without saying, when one 

 considers the importance of the undertaking and the mag- 

 nitude of the losses that may result if failure follows. 



Which method of treatment should be used must be deter- 

 mined by existing conditions. Where an outbreak has al- 

 ready occurred and it is desired to treat the remaining ap- 

 parently well animals the simple serum method should be 

 employed, for it is very probable that many, if not all, of 

 the animals so injected have become previously infected 

 and the treatment will result in permanent or active im- 

 munity. The use of cholera virus on hogs that have al- 

 ready become infected or are otherwise diseased is simply 

 adding to their troubles and will almost invariably result 

 in the death of the animal. Further, the simple serum 

 method only should be used in treating brood sows in preg- 

 nancy, even though the treatment may have to be repeated 

 to carry them on through farrowing and until their pigs 

 are old enough to wean, and then both sows and pigs should 

 be given the simultaneous treatment. 



The simultaneous method should always be used where 

 permanent immunity is desired, and especially so whenever 

 the animals are to be placed in lots or houses in which 

 cholera outbreaks have previously occurred. 



^Vs to the efficacy of the simultaneoiis treatment, where 

 the serum and virus are right and are properly given, to 

 produce immunity and thus permanently prevent the rav- 

 ages of hog cholera there is in my mind absolutely no 

 question. 



That it can be done has been proved time and time again. 

 To be sure there are numerous cases where serum has been 

 used with no apparent effect, and the simultaneous treat- 

 ment has been given in order to gain permanent immunity. 



