14 BULLETIN 584, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
by the use of serum, the enormous losses which annually are caused 
by the disease. 
We are firmly convinced that, for the present, the greatest good is 
to be accomplished by bending every effort toward the rational use 
of serum so as to curtail the losses of hogs, rather than by attempting 
nation-wide eradication, which on account of the many factors in- 
volved we must regard as impossible. It is well, therefore, to con- 
sider how the most effective work may be done, and in particular 
what duties devolve upon the State and Federal Governments. 
First of all we must recognize the fact that success or failure will 
depend upon the farmer himself. His interest and intelligent co- 
operation are the foundation stones upon which this work must rest. 
Therefore, education of farmers in matters pertaining to hog cholera 
takes first place. However, the importance of organization must not 
be lost sight of. Every farmer should be interested in and have 
knowledge of the conditions prevailing in neighboring herds and 
should see to it that his neighbors are promptly informed of any 
trouble that may arise in his own herd. To promote this cooperation, 
some form of organization of farmers is essential. 
The whole purpose of this education and organization is to enable 
the farmers intelligently to avail themselves of the means of saving 
their hogs; therefore knowledge on the part of the farmer as to 
what to do and how to do it will be of little avail unless the needed 
facilities are supplied. Thus, arrangements must be made for ready 
availability of good serum and of the instruments required for its 
injection by men sufficiently skilled to insure proper use. 
We may expect success in controlling losses from cholera when the 
following four conditions are met: (1) A farming community that 
knows hog cholera, the ways in which it is spread, and the best 
methods of combating it. (2) A community so organized that every 
farmer will be ready to help his neighbors by informing them of the 
existence of cholera wherever this may come to his notice, and where 
every farmer knows where to get good serum quickly. (3) Readily 
available serum at reasonable prices. (4) A sufficient number of 
skilled men to apply the serum. 
In order to attain these desired conditions the united efforts of 
State and Federal Governments are required, for, while the preven- 
tion of losses in individual localities is a matter of local concern only, 
this disease, being so widespread and so disastrous in its effects 
upon the welfare and prosperity of the farmers generally, also 
affects the entire population of the country through the destruction 
of so large a proportion of the food-producing animals. 
It seems clear, therefore, that the Federal Government should lend 
its aid in all cases where State officials or other local agencies are 
in a position to offer reasonable cooperation. Under such an ar- 
