CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION.
Raising and distribution of lymph.
As no vaccination is carried on in Berar during the hot weather and rains,
it becomes necessary to raise a new supply of
lymph before the 1st of October, the commence-
ment of the vaccination season. Accordingly, some tubes of animal lymph
having been obtained from Bombay, calf vaccination was started at Akola on
the 15th September, under my immediate supervision. From this centre,
animal lymph was distributed to the several District Superintendents, and
animal vaccination maintained in each district until successful results were
reported from every vaccination circle, when calf vaccination was discontinued,
except in the Akola District, where it was kept up throughout the season for
the purpose of renewing the supply as required. The work was then carried on
by arm-to-arm vaccination, as far as possible, or by lymph preserved in tubes.
Result of humanized lymph obtained
from England.
2. In October a supply of humanized lymph was received from England
and distributed to each Superintendent. It
proved successful in each district, but the
results were not so good as those obtained from
the lymph propagated in the province, and it was allowed to die out.
Introduction of animal vaccination
and process of raising cow lymph
described.
3. Animal vaccination was introduced into Bombay in 1869 by
Dr. Blanc, who had previously practised it in
London, and since then the system of calf
vaccination has been carried on by the Bombay
Vaccination Department, from which department the lymph can be
purchased at the rate of one rupee a tube.
On receipt of the lymph from Bombay, I immediately procured a healthy
heifer, which was operated upon as follows:—
Having been thrown on the ground, its two forelegs tied together and
its hind ones firmly held, one close to the ground, and the animal otherwise
secured, the part round the udder was shaved and the lymph introduced
by punctures with a double-edged scalpel. On the third day after the
operation papulæ appeared at the seat of puncture, which, on the fifth day,
had become vesicles full of lymph fit for use. Two more calves were now
operated upon from this one, and on the sixth day I vaccinated several child-
ren in the town of Akola, assisted by the Deputy Commissioner, Colonel
Laughton, and Mr. Bymanjee, C. I. E., Vice-President of the Municipality.
The epidermis of the calf is so thick that the lymph had to be squeezed
out by curved forceps constructed for the purpose.
Animal lymph should be used direct from the calf, for it does not keep
well, and often fails if kept for any length of time in tubes. So far as 1 have
observed, animal lymph produces more constitutional disturbance than
humanized lymph, but the resulting scars are better, and the vaccination
is, I believe, more thoroughly protective.
Renewal of lymph in Wun District
by inoculating a calf with virus of
small-pox.
4. In the Wun District, the Native Superintendent, acting under my
orders, renewed his working lymph by inocu-
lating a calf with the virus of small-pox, and
from it vaccinated 45 children with satisfactory
results. The lymph was active, the vesicles well
developed and ran the ordinary course, and there were no abnormal
symptoms.
B152-3.