Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-30
bovine Virus.


from S to 10 months, never over year, and
recruited by the gatherers from the sur.
rounding country from the farmers, who are
paid SO much for the hiring of the animals.
Lancaster county's farm lands, the most
celebrated in the world, are excellent
sources Of supply, as the rich grass causes
the cattle to be in the very finest condition.
The heifers are brought to the farm in twos,
conveyed by patent cart, which amply
provides for the comfort of the animals
while ca ionte for the farm. Upon their
arrival they are thoroughly cleaussd and
placed for a day upon o diet OF oats and
middines. The next Gay they are fed on
corr, cats. and middliogs. This diet causes
fever, which makes tho heifer moro apt to
thoroughly take the inocnlation.
Ga the third day the heiier ID taken to
the operating room and placed, generally
after q severe struggle upon The operating
board TO which it ia strapped, neck, body
and legs, etlectually preventing any violent
movement. Two shavers, with razors ra
pidly shave the hair from the inner and
back portions Of the upper part of the
hind legs. This operation is painless.
Then the lance is used 10 ecrape the
tough skin 10 the flesh until the serum, or
liquid of the blood appears. Six spots about
the size Of a half-dolar are scraped off each
shaved space. Now comes the painful part
of this seemingly cruel operation, during
which the poor brute twitches violently and
with its expressive eyes almost appeals for
mercy. A scarifer, such as is used to vacci-
nate human beings, is vigorously used. and
soon the quivering flesh presents an appear
ance resembling raw beef. From ivory
points, each of which is hesvly coated with
virus obtained from former subjects. the in
oouation i5 produced, accompanied by the
tremulous vibration of the heifer, which is
more frightened than hurt M this stage. AS
soou as the serum dries The subject is re.
leased from the operating table and stabbed.
The first two days following the inoculat-
ing process but little evidence of its effects
are eeen. The third day crust forms and,
very curiously, only upon the shaved por.
tions of the legs pox appear, either violent
and angry in appearance or mild, az the con-
dition Of the animal is affected by the virus.
This state remains outwardly unchanged for
two or three days, but during that time the
crust or scab is thickening and the pox
growing deeper. On the eighth day the
sores are ripe and the heifers are led from
the stables into an apartment. where they
are again strapped, though not 80 tightly as
before, and the extraction of the virus is ac-
complished.
With lance carefully lifting the scab,
which is az large and thick as an oyster
shell, the operator carefully sponges with
tepid water the open scre, removing ell pus
and foreign matter Soon after the sore be-
gins to discharge the lymph, or, using the
technical expression, ito weep" With fine
brushes OF cancels hair The operator re.
moves the lymphatic fluid and applies it to
points of pure ivory, the thickness Of wri-
ting paper, and two inches long by QUE
quarter vide. These points are placed in
racks, holding fifty each, and are coated
thoroughly with the virus directly as it is
brushed from the open sore. These points
are laid away and then undergo the pro.
cess of drying. Each hefer is capable of
yielding virus enough to supply from GOO to
1900 points.
After this operation, which is never per.
formed twice upon the same animal. the
heifer is again washed and stabbed. They
are supplied with food, the tendencies of
which are cooling, and the hrutes remain
quietly stabbed for a week. During the time
the process OF healing is 10 progress the an
cry appearance gradually subsidies, the sores
are covered with healthy looking surface
and the pox slowly disappears. In from
eight to ten days after the extraction of the
virus the animals are perfectly well, exempt
from smallpox, and none the worse for their
unwilling contribution to the interests Of
science They are then returned to their
owners.-PhiladeIphia Times.