Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)Law, James
Science
Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 4 (of 5)
Law, James
Veterinary medicine
Another desideratum was a speedy means of distinguishing in field work
between hog cholera and swine plague, as the antitoxin of the one was
not protective against the other. To meet this, serum was obtained from
an animal immunized to both diseases, or a mixture was made of the sera
of two animals respectively made resistant to the two affections.
De Schweinitz was very optimistic in the matter, claiming that the serum
is absolutely harmless, can be used on pigs freely, and will cost but 15
cents for each animal. He estimated that of the $15,000,000 per annum
lost by Hog Cholera and Swine Plague in Iowa alone, $11,000,000 can be
saved at a comparatively small cost.
The method is scientifically sound in availing of the defensive products
of the immunized system for imparting to the animal attacked, the power
of vital resistance, and after allowing for enthusiasm, for the
inevitable mistakes, when used on a large scale, of other deadly swine
diseases for hog cholera, for the many accidents incident to its
application by operators who are not specially trained like the employés
of the Bureau, for its demand for acute and deadly outbreaks, as well as
for chronic and mild ones, and taking into account that in other hands
it has not fully borne out the promise made for it; yet it seems to have
some measure of merit, and where no systematic attempt is made by the
authorities for the extinction of the disease and its germ, it is an
available resort for the owner of herds.
The fundamental objection is that it entails the preservation, encrease
and spread of the poison, and like all temporizing measures, stands as a
barrier to the complete extinction of the plague. Giving such a very
transient protection, its repetition may be demanded in a few months or
a year, and proceeding on the ground that the pest must continue for all
time, the apparent economy of the process will prove, in the long run,
but a permanent and grievous tax.
The soundest and only truly economical course in dealing with this and
other deadly infections of swine is the radical extinction of the germ.
When the people can be educated up to this we shall see the dawn of a
brilliant future for our animal industries. Until then we must be
satisfied to fall back upon, and make the best use of the temporizing
measures now in vogue or that may hereafter be devised. Even if it
should be shown that hog cholera is at long intervals developed from a
‘sport’ of the usually harmless bacillus coli commune, the fact remains
that its great extensions and the resulting fatality are due to the
contagion alone, so that extinction remains the true watchword of
success and economy.
SWINE PLAGUE: SEPTICÆMIA HÆMORRHAGICA SUIS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account