The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-08-23
HOW VIRUS is MADE.

plains the Care Taken in It's
Preparation-Everyth hing
Possible is Done to Insure
Cleanliness in it's Production.
Health Commissioner Boslev
said: "The vaccine virus that we
use is made by firm that uses
every precaution possible to pre-
vent any Objectionable foreign
matter from coming in contact
with it before it is sent out for use.
Nothing but female calves are used
in securing the virus, as they are
of cleaner nature than the
males.
"After securing the calf a
thorough examination for tuber.
culosis is made. If no germs are
found the calf is accepted as a fit
subject and is placed in a stall
made of slate with grauolithic
flooring. On top of this floor is
a platform made of wooden Stats,
upon which the calf stands OF lies
at will. This false floor is taken
out and subjected to a thorough
washing and antiseptic cleansing
every day. The entire stable is
also washed and sterilized, so that
no disease germ can live or find
lodgment there. The calves are
fed regularly by means of nipples
depending from block-t tin recep-
tacles which contain sterilized
milk.
"Wh hen the calf is deemed in
suitable condition to be inoculated
it is taken to another room, which
is also Sterilized, and is placed
upon a table. All of its under
parts, breast, inside of fore and
hind legs, are then shaved and
lines are cut into the skin one.
forth of an inch apart Into these
lines vaccine virus is thoroughly
rubbed. The calf is then taken
to another stable, where the same
careful treatment is observed, and
is kept there until the virus is
ready to be taken from her. 1t is
placed in a Sterilized glass vessel
which l. kept III a refrigerator.
The calf then goes to the inciner-
ating plant, where it is killed and
It's internal organs thoroughly eX-
amined
''If the calfiS found to be infect
ed with any disease it is thrown
into the incinerating plant along
with the virus that was taken from
it. If. however, the calfunder eX-
animation proves to be healthy the
virus is sent to the laboratory.
There it is Incorporated with pure
glycerlne by means Of Steriized
glass rollers. The room in which
this takes place is thoroughly ster-
ilized, as is also the clothing Of
the operator. This process pro-
duceS IA substance known as give
erinated virus. The product from
each calf is sent separately to
another room, where it is drawn
into glass capillary tubes by a
vacuum. Each of these glass tubes
is about the diameter Of broom
straw and three inches long. 1t
is sealed by means of a BunSen
burner, which melts the ends.
Then the vaccine virus is ready
for distribution.
"The method of vaccination,
as pursued by the Baltimore
Health Department is to wash
with soap the arm to be vaccina.
ted. The flesh is then scraped
with an instrument which has
been subjected to the heat of an
alcoholic flame. Each end of the
capillary tube is broken off and
rubber bulb is fastened upon one
end, and by it the virus is forced
into the wound caused by the
Scraper, and it is thoroughly i'm,
pregnated. This process does
away with the old ivory points,
which, altogether now used with
glycerine to preserve them from
contamination with foreign mat
tiers, we do not consider as safe as
the Theoretically sealed tubes
which | have just described. BY
use of the capillary tubes we avoid
the danger of pus formation, and
the only reaction is a slight inham-
nation and soreness, not sufficient
to cause man to stay away from
business"