The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-16
A Vaccine Farm.
From New York World.

The Board of Health maintains one OF
the best vaccine ''farms' in the world.
From this 'sfarm" is obtained almost all, 1t
not all, of the virus that is used for vaccl.
mating purposes in New York hospitals and
other institutions. Sanitary experts from
MANY foreign countries, who have examln-
ed the farm" have reported that 1t Is a
model of its kind. 1t is called a ''farm,
but it is located in an unpretentlous-look-
inc stable on the south side of Forty-tourth
street, between First and Second avenues.
DIR, Edward |. Pardee, the superlnten'
dent. has had charge of the establishment
since it was started He was found In
tently inspecting the unpleasant Looking
scabs on the hind quarters of three fat
COWS. DIR. Pardee knows all about vac
cine virus from its discovery by Jenner in
1896 until now. Under his care 100000
vaccineE'points' are produced at the Board
farm every year.
The "farm' is on the second floor OF
the stable. 1t contains twelve perfectly
clean stalls, the framework of which was
invented by DR.. Pardce. This is so ar
ranged that the heads of the cows are fast
ened between two upright hickory posts,
far enough apart however to enable the
animals to eat Other pieces OF hickory
timber are SO fixed that the cow cannot
move more than an inch or two in any di-
rection during the operation OF incubation.
The animals are led to the upper floor
by means of an incline from Forty-thlrd
street. Usually, tame OK Is led up IN adj
vance of the rest of the herd The others
generally follow without trouble. After
having the hickory timbers around them,
the cows become tame quickly. They are
dealt with gently, but some of them will
persist in kicking to the last However,
when Dr. Pardee's frames are around them,
they hurt only themselves
DIR. Pardec, when the reporter called,
was on the right-hand side of COW Weld
inc a knife and a bone scapula, and his assist
ant. j. J. Behan, was on the opposite side
preparing place for the incubation. MI
Behan first cut away the hair on either
side Just forward Of the root of the tail Tor
a space probably ten inches square. This
was done with a clipping machine. Then
he lathered the spot and shaved 1t clean
with a sharp razor.
When the place was clean shaver, Dr.
Pardee took a six-bladed knife, all the
blades open at once frOm.the same end, and
scariGed spot on the clean hide about Two
inches square. Then he applied the virus
from a bone scapula Two inoculations
were made on each side of the hind quar-
tiers. When it was finished the cow MUNICH
ed her hay contentedly, but later on she
occasionally switched her tail as II she
thought new kind of fly had discovered
her whereabouts.
DR.. Pardee explained that after the scabs
are taken off, the quilts are dipped in the
exudations from the pustules and are then
laid away to dry. Subsequently each quill
is cut into four points. One COW furnishes
virus for 500 quills or 2OOO points, The
virus is almost colorless and an oblique cut
is made in the quill to show the doctor
which end to apply to the scarlhcation on
the arm Of a patient.
DR.. Pardee said that only the hcalthiest
of cows were used at the ''farm.' Gener-
ally they were Durhams from two to four
wears old raised for beef. Every COW is
examined by veterinary surgeon before
it is allowed to enter the stable and every
day subsequently. If a COW shows a trace
of any other disease after incubation the
virus from her is not used. Only "healthy
virus is used. The healthicst virus is the
poison from sore. When DIR. Jenner
discovered the virus in 1896 he probably
thought of this paradox.
There are usually twelve cows in the city
stalls. They are furnished by butcher
who takes them back after they recover
from the effects of the incubation, which
does not affect their quality for food. The
sore heals up in week, leaving the flesh
absolutely pure. OF course, the butcher is
yuid something for the use of the cattle.