16 
W. B. NILES. 
This is a hard question to answer in the present state of our 
knowledge, and I am no better prepared to answer it than some 
others. 
I do not consider it necessary for the treatment to do both 
in order to be practical, provided it possesses the second quali¬ 
fication. 
If it will do but one, if it will cure a large per cent, of the 
sick ones or prevent the disease when given to the well, either 
before or after exposure, it may be considered a practical line of 
treatment. 
If it will cure the diseased, it should also produce immunity 
if given before exposure, but it may prevent the disease and 
still not cure the sick. 
During the past season, serum from several sources has been 
used in different parts of the country. Early in the summer 
the energetic pharmaceutical firm of Park, Davis & Co. sent a 
man into this State for the purpose of trying the effects of their 
serum. Dr. E. A. A. Grange, who made the experiments, in¬ 
forms me that the results were not good and that the serum 
consequently was not put upon the market. The Southern 
Vaccine Co., of Galveston, Texas, have for some time been ex¬ 
perimenting with a cholera serum and now have a preparation 
to distribute to farmers and veterinarians for practical tests. 
So far the value of their serum is not known. In Nebraska, 
as you are aware, the experimental station has for three years 
been trying a serum prepared by Dr. Peters, that I believe has 
given varying results. 
I understand that a report from that station will soon be out, 
giving the results of some late experiments, which according to 
my information have not been so satisfactory as was hoped, es¬ 
pecially in the way of preventing the disease. 
Dr. Peters kindly informed me that during 1898 only the 
curative power of the serum had been tested, for previous ex¬ 
periments taught that its preventive quality was not very great. 
If when given before exposure it will not prevent the disease 
after subsequent exposure it seems to me doubtful that it can be 
