xxxvii
As arm-to-arm vaccination has been abolished altogether, the lymph for use is
taken from animals, and those used are female calves, preferably from ten to twelve weeks
old, and the lymph is passed on from one animal to another without being humanized.
The calf selected is perfectly healthy, and with regard to its temperature the rule is that
it must never exceed 41C°. 106°F. and ought not to exceed 39°F. 102°F. If this examination
is favourable, it is fed for three days (previous to vaccination) on milk, eggs and whole
meal, so that its digestion shall be as perfect as possible and the animal itself in the high-
est state of health. During the time it is thus being fed its conditions are carefully noted,
and if all are satisfactory it is then passed as fit for vaccination purposes.
The calf is then strapped to a special table (the top being made to revolve from the
vertical into the horizontal position) by means of broad leather bands, one round the body,
another round the head and neck, and one round the forelegs, which are confined together
in the same strap ; the left hind leg is also fastened to the table, the right being left free,
this fastening being done while the table top is vertical. It is then turned over into the
horizontal position so that no struggling shall take place on the part of the animal. While
lying thus on its side an iron upright bar with a ring at the top is slipped into a catch on
the table, and to this ring the right hind leg of the calf is raised and strapped, thus exposing
freely the whole of the belly and inside of the thighs of the animal. The hair is then
shaved as closely as possible off one-half of the belly and down the soft part of the thighs,
and for this reason female calves are chosen as being most suitable and affording a larger
surface for vaccination.
The whole surface thus shaved is now washed with sterilized water and soap, and
carefully dried ; then again washed with corrosive sublimate solution (1 in 1,000), and finally
again washed with sterilized water and dried, so that the entire surface shall be free from
contamination with germs of any sort previous to inoculation.
The surface thus prepared is then scarifed with rather a blunt scalpel (which has
also been sterilized), in long parallel lines, and done so carefully that no oozing of blood
shall take place, any that appears being most carefully wiped away, an assistant holding
the skin so as to tighten it for the operator.
These scarifications are not deep, and between the teats punctures are employed.
As this scarifying process goes on the vaccine fluid is poured over the wounds and lightly
rubbed into them with the scalpel in use, and when this is done the first steps of the
operation are complete.
The animal is now lowered into the vertical position, carefully loosened and led
into its box (which is scrupulously clean and well littered down with straw), and its head
fastened so that it cannot in any way lick itself, and is in this way left for 72 hours, being
fed, watched, and its temperature regularly taken all the time.
At the end of this period, if everything is favourable, the calf is again strapped to
the table as before. The belly and thighs being exposed, the vaccinated portions are
most carefully washed with soap and sterilized water, the rubbing being done very gently
(by means of a woman's hand on account of its softness), so as to detach gently all dirt,
scabs, &c, and afterwards the whole surface is repeatedly washed with sterilized water
just warm enough to be pleasant. The animal thoroughly enjoys this and never moves
while it is being done.
The second part of the process ended, the next consist in scraping off with a
sterilized bowl spoon the whole of the vaccine matter from the scarified surface, which is
done rapidly and effectually, and is at once placed in sterilized glass boxes (known as Pet¬
ris) and covered over. When all has been thus collected the amount is noted and careful-
ly weighed, and for each part of vaccine matter is prepared two parts of sterilized water and
two parts of neutral glycerine, also sterilized. The water and glycerine having being pre-
viously got ready, the collected vaccine is now spread out under the glass cover, and all
hairs or particles of dirt carefully picked out, and the water and glycerine added little by
little until the mass is sufficiently loose and soft to be pressed between the rollers (porce-
lain) of a vaccine rolling machine, through which it is passed until it comes out an opaque
white fluid, perfectly limpid and ready for use. The porcelain rollers are previously washed
and sterilized so that no contamination may attach itself to them and infect the fluid, and
in this condition it is filled into glass tubes drawn out and closed by heat at both ends,
or into small glass flasks half inch in diameter and one inch long, closed with a new cork
(both flasks and tubes being previously sterilized).
Each of these tubes and flasks contain
enough lymph to vaccinate 50 children, and from one calf successfully manipulated enough
lymph is obtained to vaccinate about 3,000 children as the vaccine keeps well in these
tubes—in cold weather from four to six weeks.
When the vaccine has been collected and the calf quite recovered from the effects
of the inoculation, it is again examined, and if there is anything suspicious about its state
is killed and the internal organs examined for disease ; but this is done for extra security,
as the German laws are so strict in the matter.