The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-04-25
How Vaccine Virus is Obtained.

How vaccine virus is ODtaineu.
DR.. Henry A. Martin, of Boston, who
some time ago took up the business of
furnishing physicians with lymph for
vaccination purposes, derived directly
from heifers inoculated with the cow
pox, finds the business growing great on
his hands, and the lymph extraordinarily
in demand so that he has given up all
his practice, save surgery and vaccina-
ton, and he devotos all his time and
energies to this speciality. What would
seem, at first thoughttto be the least
possible source of inconvenience, has
proved to DR.. Martin the most trouble
some-that is, to secure sufficient and
constant supply of animals. For the
purpose of vaccination and the supply
of lymph, only heifer calves from three
to six months old are used and the ut
most care is observed to select only the
healthiest and most suitable individuals.
This necessitates supply of about three
hundred per year at present, and soon
double that number will be required.
A semi-satirical paragraph in New
York paper recently represented that
DR.. Martin had shaved the abdomen of
calf and keeps the unhappy creature
Ill u SUdIc VI ullCtuSlIS lhlo
is not only untrue but utterly impossi-
BILE. A revaccination of a heifer is ut
terly impossible. A revaccination of
heifer which had recently enjoyed
term of the cow-pox would be about as
effective as similar operation upon
craven image. The term of the disease
in the bovine is less than two weeks,
and only from the sixth to the seventh
day are the pustules in the state re-
quired for the collection of lymph. Ac-
cordingly fresh animal has to be
brought in for each successive vaccina-
tion. The room in which the heifers
are kept is light, warm, and airy, per-
fectly finished room, indeed, with plaster
ed walls and ceiling, and the stalls are
built with as much regard to comfort
and cleanliness as those of a gentleman's
stable. Dry saw-dust is furnished for
bedding, and meal mashes with hay for
- food.
Under the large south window stands
peculiar operating table, with top
which folds down, two projecting arms
then coming to the floor, as if forming
extra legs. The heifer selected is then
led out, placed alongside this table, and
its fore feet secured by fastenings already
attached to one arm, and its hind legs
to the other. A stout belt encircles its
body and the fiat top of the table, and a
halter and neck strap holds its head
in place at one corner. Then the, whole
top is lifted up to its place and secured,
and the bovine martyr to science is re-
cumbent ON one side upon the top of the
table. A portion of its abdomen, about
the size of two full grown hands, is
then shaved clean, and the vaccine virus
from another heifer at the seventh day
of the disease is inserted ia little pune
lures arranged in rows an inch apart
each way. The table is then canted
down, and the little beast released and
installed till the seventh day thereafter
when its vesicles are ripe for the supply
of lymph to another heifer and to the
human race in general. 1t is then re-
placed upon the table, and the operator
taking box of small ivory points pre-.
pared for the same to dry ON, and pail
Of peculiar shaped slim pliers, seats him.
self at the side of the table. With the
pliers he gently squeezes each pustule
in turn, and as the lymph oozes out
carefully collects it on the ivory points
From a good yielding animal severa,
hundred points can be charged. This
done, the heifer returns to her stall an6
remains few days longer, when the
crusts having matured, are taken off ant
mounted in gutta percha for the use o
those physicians who prefer this form
for administration.
The heifer then having fulfilled it
mission in the cause of science, returns
to private life. The operation is con
+o o,,a,I
necessary suffering and even inconven
fence to the animal, that it frequently
goes to sleep on the tabS and does no
evince any pain. Two agents of thu
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty tC
Animals recently visited DR.. Martin
and after seeing the process, declared
themselves perfectly satisfied that NJ
cruelty was inflicted. The ivory point
after being charged and becoming dry
are carefully put up and wound il
cotton fibre. Then white paper is wount
around them, and lastly rubber tissue
which is sealed at each end, making {
water tight and air tight package
These are then packed in any desired
quantity and shipped to fill orders.
Someidea of the extent of the doctor
business in the supply of pure cow-po,
"points" and crusts" may be gained
from the fact that on one day 900 wer'
shipped to Washington, D. c., making
5000 furnished that city, where, through
the inefficiency of the old virus, peopl
had entirely lost their faith in vaccina
ton, and smallpox was spreading, bu
since the introduction of the animal vac
cine, the most wonderful results hav
been reached. He is also supplyin.
Sah Francisco, st. Louis, and over 200
other cities and towns in this country
besides legions of physicians in privat
practice.
BE Happy Now.