St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-01-02
NEGOTIATING CALVES.
Description of the Process-by Which Virus
Is Obtained.


yard, in the village of Stoughton, were
half dozen animals, some on one side
and some on the other OF that indefinite
line which separates calves and helfers.
One of these-a pretty beast, half Jer-
sey and half Ayrshire-was busy dodg-
ing two men, who found it hard work
to corner the obstinate thing. At last
the halter was securely fastened to her
neck. and then she walked quietly
enough into little building near by,
well lighted and As clean as snch an
establishment can be kept. Leading
her up beside the top of 4 table that had
been swung over on hinges till its edge
rested on the floor. and it stood perpen-
dicularly, almost before the unsuspect-
ing creature knew what they were
about they had fast med her legs to it by
straps, her head was strapped down, the
tabletop was tipp>l up, and she was
lying flat on her SIDE. HEY tail was tied
to y post near by, SO that it couldn't get
in the way, and the operator was ready
tobe gin the work OF collecting the vac
cine virus that may inside OF week be
getting in its work on the left arm OF
some reader of this article
Inc process, though simple, is inter-
esting and worth description. The
heifer spoken OF above had been vacci-
mated week before. First, after she
had been strapped to the low table,
about two square feet OF her hair on the
hinder part of her belly had been clip
ped. Then that area had been lathered
and shaved Just Rs mans face is
shaved, but of course very large razor
is used Then with a ''vaccnator,
which in this case is an nipple
ment about the size OF Il cap-Opener,
having sharp knife points that work
with a SPRING little missions were made
in about two dozen places. Over these
virus was rubbed Then the heifer
was taken to the barn and allowed to
live for week just like any other we'll
kept beifer save that her head was
kept between stanchions So that she
couldn't lick the sores, and her bed was
made very thick with clean straw.
Plenty of clean wa:eris always kept in
front of the heifers, as DR.. Rose, who
has charge If, the establishment, has
found by long experience that the best
results are produced when. they have
plenty of water Thew are we'll fed and
given pasturage part of the time, so
that, barring little fever sometimes,
they are always i'll the best of health.
Before they are taken they are thorough
" examined 10 see that they are all
sound.
It takes aboul q week for the vacci-
ration to '.tafe.' Thor the heifer Is
again strapped TO the table and the
scabs are removed tlom the sores. This
reads as if it were a revolving sort OF
Operations. out it .sn't so at all The
shaven skin is tnoro1.g hly washed, and
the scabs then come off so easily that
the patient is hardly even impa-
tient. Once in while she winces and
sometimes she tries to kick, but the
straps dom let her make much trouble.
One animal yesterday seemed almost to
enjov the novel sensation. Sometimes,
though, they are restless and ''kick like
a steer This was the case with one
that got loose once and put her hoof
under Or. Roses chin. The doctor an
instant later found his head between the
stove and the wall and his feet resting
on the remains of light stand that he
had travelled over. There is a good
deal of vim in heifer's hind leg.
The sores don't bleed any, but from
them oozes very slowly an amber-color-
ed liquid, which the operator gently
scrapes off on the end of an ivory blade,
then dropping it into q little glass jar
As soon as one is full another man takes
it and dips in it the little ivory strips,
70 ST ,,oo,,1a 1uho haVa hpnn
vaccinated. The lymph will dry ON
these points in an hour or two, and then
they are ready for shipment in the brass
cases in which physicians buy them.
Flies are the biggest bother in the
operation. They have an Unsuitable
appetite for vaccine virus. 1t actually
intoxicates them so they can't walk
straight One good-sized healthy fly
will eat up five dollars worth of virus.
There is great uncertainty in the BUSH
ness, as one heifer may give very little
virus while the next will give great
deal. On the average, enough is Sc
cured from each heifer to coat from five
| hundred to seven hundred points. These
points sell at the rate Of fifteen for tive
dollars; so it would seem as If the profits
are very large, but the expenses are
pretty heavy, and the demand varies
largely, according as there is or is not
sman-pox scare. Many of the heifers
have to be bought outright, others are
hired. Men are kept on the road all
the time collecting them. The breed
seems to make little difference; per-
haps, though, the Jerseys give a lit
tie more lymph. Many farmers have
the idea that the operation ruins the
heifers for any further use, but DR.. Rose
says this is not so, that they are just as
we'll as ever after it. In three weeks
the hair grows out so much that you
! couldn't tell that thew had been shaved