The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-02-01

Now that the season of smallpox has
come and deaths from that terrible
disease are chroncled almost daily, 10
behooves those that wish to preserve
their beauty and escape its ravages to
at once get vaccinated. Perhaps not
one person in Q thousand has ever seen
the process by which bovine virus Is pro-
cured. Yesterday Republican repor-
ter visited the Office of DIR. Charles
Block, at No. -502 North Fourteenth
street, and witnessed the novel proceed
ing of taking the virus directly from .
live calf and vaccinsting people instantly
with it. 1t Is well known that In the
early part of the present century, dur
ing smallpox epidemic in England,
DR.. Jenner discovered that vaccination
was q preventive Of smallpox. He found
that during the scourge dairymen were
not as susceptible to the disease rs 9TH
ers, and upon further investigation found
that this was caused by their having be-
their hands coming in contact with the
udders of the animals. He then pro-
cured some of the virus and began .
system of vaccination, and found the
results were above his expections. The
manner in which it Is procured Is very
complicated and needs patient and
steady hand. Eight davs ago DR.. Block
bought healthy heifer calf about seven
months old. He scarified the animal in
twenty five or. thirty places in the re-
gion of the udder and inoculated IL with
bovine virus. The calf was then taken
and placed in stable and given the
best of food.
Yesterday morning the animal was
examined and. the vaccination having
sstaken," it was decided to procure the
virus immediately. The calf was led
into the Office and strapped down on .
stout frame about two feet high. She
did not seem to manifest the least inter
est in the proceedings, but when her
legs were bound tightly to adjacent
rings she made decided kick.
After the binding operation was COM
pleted, DIR. Higgins took q razor and
shaved the surface Of the udder and its
immediate neighborhood smooth. A
score of half-healed sores could then be
seen, somewhat similar in appearance
TO the one under like circumstances on
q human arm. A small surgical instru-
ment, somewhat in the nature of q wise,
was then taken and placed over each
scab in succession, the operator tighten
ing and relaxing it at win. When the
necessary amount of pressure had been
obtained with the instrument, yellow
ish liquid was seen to ooze from the
sore. The points and quilts were then
brought in contact with this liquid or
virus, and placed aside ready for use.
Enough virus is obtained from enc scar
to vaccinate fifty people If properly dis
tributed. This process was kept up un-
Al L. ,n1 Avx-
and enough virus obtained to vaccinate
thousands. While the squeezing process
was going on, several children, accom-
panied by their parents, came into the
room to be vaccinated. The little ones
barred their arms and bravely stood the
ordeal. After the arms had been scarf
fed the doctor took q point and placed
it in contact with sore on the udder Of
the calf, and then instantly placed it on
the arms of the children. One little girl
thirteen years old, desired to be vac
cinated on the leg, and the doctor, pick
ing out q soft spot near the knee, 80
complished- her object.
All persons vaccinated in this manner
need have no fear of contracting any
hereditary taints in the veins, and II Il
does not take they may rest assured that
they are not susceptible to the disease.
Heifers have to be yaccinated the same
as humans before the vaccine matter
can be procured, but not with human
virus, but that taken from some other
bovine. 1t has frequently been found,
though, that some cows become inocu-
lated through 3 natural state, which
must have been the case with cows used
by Dr.. Jenner. Taking virus from Q
human being and inoculating q calf Il
called retrovaccinaiion, and the virus
thus obtained from the animal Is very
weak and not always reliable. This Is
only done in extreme necessity, and
where vaccine matter can not otherwise
be procured. The cold weather will
undoubtedly increase the number Of
smallpox cases, and there is good
ground for the belief that not more than
one-hah the cases are reported daily.
Yesterday DIR. Washington was repri-
manded by the Board Of Health for in
| tentionally suppressing q case, and he
is but one of many physicians who do
likewise. II it became whispered about
that popular physician was attending
q case Of smallpox, his other. patients
would positively inform him that his
services in their behalf would be no
longer required. This is one of the in
ducements which physicians have for
wishing to suppress small-pox.-St.
louis RepublicdH.
l.