74 Swine Erysipelas 



either by subcutaneous injections of highly virulent virus nor 

 by feeding with organs from animals which died of erysipelas ; 

 on the other hand, the experiences made in practice proved 

 that the immunity produced by the inoculation, protects the 

 animals against natural infection. 



In Hungary the considerable losses caused by erysipelas have been 

 reduced to 1 to 2% in formerly badly infected herds. In the great 

 majority of cases erysipelas has not caused losses either immediately 

 after the inoculation or later during the favorable summer weather 

 among the vaccinated animals, whereas among the control animals 

 which were not vaccinated, the disease raged, and in many cases the 

 vaccination suppressed already existing outbreaks. The age of the 

 animals influenced the results of the vaccination in such a way that 

 the inoculation failed to produce in the sucking age a sufficient im- 

 munity or none at all ; on the other hand, it has not proven dangerous 

 in animals even up to 3 years of age. The vaccinated animals were 

 partly of the native Mangalicza breed. However, animals of the Poland- ■ 

 China and Suffolk breeds were also vaccinated with the same beneficial 

 results (Wirtz also found that vaccination of the Mangalicza breed 

 was without danger), whereas in Yorkshire hogs sometimes dangerous 

 affections resulted (Bleyer). 



Pasteur's protective inoculation accordingly appears to be 

 especially effective in herds of common or less highly bred 

 animals, particularly in localities where erysipelas annually 

 causes considerable loss, and it may be employed without dan- 

 ger in already affected herds of such breeds. 



At the initiative of Azary, Pasteur's vaccination has been extensively used 

 m Hungary since 1887. From 1889-1894, 1,085,686 hogs were vaccinated and after 

 the first vaccination 0.14%, after a second 0.07%, and later in the year 0.54% died 

 of erysipelas. On account of hog cholera which appeared in 1895 the results of the 

 later inoculations cannot be determined accurately as the affections and deaths which 

 resulted from the heretofore unknown hog cholera were often simply attributed to 

 erysipelas. But since greater stress was placed on differential diagnosis the re- 

 sults appear favorable. Thus in 1907 of 28,642 hogs in already infected herds 

 637 died after the vaccination, later 421 additional fatalities were observed. In 

 healthy herds out of 288,950 vaccinations 125 and 623 died. 



Pasteur's vaccination is used less extensively in Prance and Russia probably 

 on account of the fact that in some of the herds the losses following vaccination 

 amounted to 6 to 10%, which condition may be attributed to a feebler resistance 

 of the native breeds. In Germany this method has not attained extensive ap- 

 plication owing to the unfavorable results obtained by Lydtin & Schottelius, but in 

 recent years it has been more extensively used, especially in the southern part of 

 the Empire. 



Technique of Vaccination. The vaccination is carried out in the same 

 way as anthrax vaccination in sheep (see page 27) ; the quantity of the im- 

 munizing material is in this case also 0.12 cc. (% of the contents of Pasteur vac- 

 cination syringe), and- the second vaccination follows 12 days after the first. . It 

 is advisable to vaccinate pigs in the spring after weaning at the age of 3-5 months, 

 before the appearance of hot weather. 



Direct results of vaccination. This is manifested in some cases by debility 

 lasting from 1 to 2 days, impaired appetite, and sometimes a weakness of the 

 hind quarters; on the second and third day after the vaccination the temperature 

 rises on an average of 0.8°C. Sometimes, however, it may rise up to 41.7°C. 

 (Mihaly), whereupon the animals rapidly recover their normal condition. Occa- 

 sionally a swelling of considerable size may appear at the point of inoculation, 

 and stiffness of the joints may also develop, particularly in the higher breeds, and 

 here and there death may result from erysipelatous endocarditis. 



