The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-07-09

cause.
Cure for South African Horse Sickness.
A discovery of considerable Interest
and Importance is, says the Times.
announced in the annual report to his
government of DR.. Alexander Eding-
ton, government bacteriologist at Ora
jamestown, Cape Colony. He claims
that 1t is perfect and complete So
luton to the problem of protecting
against horse-sickness horses which
nave to live in unhealthy districts in
South Africa. AS in the case of rim
derpest among cattle, DR.. Ellington re-
lies upon incubation with the virus
OF the disease to render horses i'm
mune from the malady. In a virulent
form, 1t has an energy so great that
no horse can, practically speaking
Withstand it, whether ii is commune
Gated naturally in the veldt or by arti-
nclal means But when the virus has
been attenuated a different condition
obtains. The problem over which the
baeteriologist spent much time and
labor was how to overcome the ex-
IRENE variation of susceptibility in
various horses 1t was found that the
same attenuated virus that would kill
some animals only set up mild fever
in others. Still, the experiments went
on, and Dr. Ellington at last establish
ed the right principle of starting with
virus which had been less reduced.
Serum taken from animals that had
recovered from the disease was tried,
but it possessed no appreciate anti
toxic property. Then serum was OBJ
tanned from horses which, after re-
covery, had been inoculated with doses
OF virulent blood; this showed marked
results. OF course the old difficulty
of adapting the virus to the suscepti-
bility of the animal remained, but the
system finally adopted was this: Blood
oi the highest order of virulence Is
carefully standardized and preserved;
it will keep its powers unchanged for
two years. Standardized serum is sup
piled, which, bottled in presence of ar
antiseptic, will keep for long periods
A definite amount of virulent blood is
mixed with so &C. of serum and in
jected under the horses skin; some
days later a smaller dose with the
same proportions is given; at later
date the process is repeated with a
reduced quantity of serum; and IA
days later pure virulent blood is in
jected. Thus, the animals system is
pradua1Iv Fortified oooincf diceaco nv
the Introduction of virus of increasing
power; the sickness is at first produced
in the form of fever with higL tenn
perature, but in a few days a normal
state of health ensues, and in many
cases horses have been inoculated with
, enormous doses" of virulent blood
without showing any ill-effeets-doses
, enough to have destroyed them out o.
hand unless they had been Injured t.
the poison by the cumulative injec
: tions Il am happy to say" observes
! the doctor, that this method leaves
: little to be desired, and affords per
feet and complete solution to the prob
lem of protecting horses which hav'
} to live in unhealthy districts in Soutl
Africa" According to the Cape Times
DR.. Ellington is setting up all the ma
: chinery and appliances necessary t.
the practical application of the meth
cd, and expects shortly to be able t
meet any demand TOR material and ap
paratus. In view of the number of pre-
: pared animals which it will be neces
sary to maintain, some additional
stabling will be required, and provi
sion made for better water supply
and the report expresses a hope that
in view of the enormous benefit whicl
must accrue from the application o
this discovery, the Cape government
will approve of this expense.