News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-06-07
BOVINE VIRUS.
How the Seed Of Your Vaccination is
Produced from Young Cattle.
from the PhiladeIpbia Times.1


The stock used is the finest of Jer-
sey, Devon and Holstein heifers ranging
IN age from to 10 months, never over a
year, and recruited by the gatherers
from the surrounding country from the
farmers, who are paid so much for the
hiring of the animals. Lancaster coun-
ty' farm lands, the most celebrated in
the world, are excellent sources of sup
ply, 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 a patent cart, which amply
provides for the comfort of the animals
while en- route for the farm. Upon their
arrival they are thoroughly cleansed and
placed for a day upon diet of oats and
middhngs. The next day they are fed
on corn, oats, and middlings. This diet
causes fever, which makes the heifer
more apt to thoroughly take the inocu-
lation.
On the third day the heifer is taken to
the operating room and placed, general
~ after a severe struggle, upon the
operating board, to which it is strapped,
neck, body and legs, effectually prevent
ing any violent movement. Two shavers,
with razors, rapidly shave the hair from
the inner and back portions of the up
per part of the hind legs. This opera
ton is painless. Then the lance is used
to scrape the tough skin to the flesh I'M
til the serum, or liquid of the blood APP
pears. Six spots about the size of a
half-dollar are scraped off each shaved
space. Now comes the painful part of
this seemingly cruel operation, during
which the poor brute witches violently
and with its expressive eyes almost APP
peais for mercy. A scarifier, such as is
used to vacinate human beings, is vigor-
ously used, and soon the quivering flesh
presents an appearance resembling raw
beef. From ivory points, each of which
Is heavily covered with virus obtained
from former subjects, the incubation is
produced, accompanied by the tremulous
vibration of the heifer, which is more
frightened than hurt at this stage. As
soon as the serum dries the subject is
released from the operating table and
stabbed.
The first two days following heinocu-
lating process but little evidence of its
effects are seen. The third day crust
forms, and, very curiously, only upon
the shaved portions of the legs pox APP
pear, either violent and angry in appear
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 dav
the sores are ripe and the heifers are led
from the stables into an apartment where
they are again strapped, though not so
tightly as before, and the extraction of
the virus is accomplished.
With lance carefully lifting the scab,
which is as large and thick as an oyster
shell, the operator carefully sponges
with tepid water the open sore removing
al pus and foreign matter. Soon after
the sore begins to discharge the lymph,
Or, to use the technical expression, 90 to
weep" With fine brushes the operator
removes the Emphatic fluid and applies
t to the points of pure ivory, the thick
ness of writing paper, and two inches
ong by one-quarter wide. These points
ire placed IN racks, holding fifty each,
md are coated thoroughly with the virus
hrectly as it is brushed from the open
,ore. These points are laid away and !
hen undergo the process of drying.
Each heifer is capable of yielding virus
enough to supply from 600 to ], 200 !
points.
After this operation, which is never
performed twice on the same animal, the
leifer is again washed and stabbed. They
re supplied with food the tendencies of
which are cooling, and the brutes re-
main quietly stabbed for a week. Dur
ng the time the process of healing is in
progress the angry appearance gradually
the sores are covered with a
healthy looking surface and the pox
slowly disappear. In from eight to ten
days after the extraction of the virus the |
animals are perfectly we'll, exempt from
smallpox, and none the worse for their
unwilling contribution to the interests |
of science. They are then returned to
their owners.