Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26
Immunlnu Cattle to Tick Fever.


This is the season when northern bred
cattle should be inoculated with fever, II
one wishes to be assured against loss
from this southern scourge.
Many short horn, Hereford, and other
pure bred cattle have this fall been
brought into our tick infested territory,
from north of the fever quarantine line.
Many of these cattle, indeed most or
them. will die Of fever next summer. II
they shall be inoculated with a mild form
Of fever this winter they and their de-
scendants will be left to enrich our coun-
try, as we'll as prove profitable venture
TO those who have benefited our section
by bringing this valuable blood south.
To inoculate a susceptible animal with
the fever infected blood OF an immune,
Is not a task beyond the ability of any
regular physician who will follow direc-
lions. Those having an interest in vet
Urinary matters can learn to do the work
successfully by once seeing the operation
performed The theory Is that animals
that have had the fever within a certain
length OF time after recovery, carry In
their blood the dormant germ OF cattle
fever. The same applies to animals that
have run on tick infested pastures These
latter class have developed that resisting
power to disease called immunity. One
Of these animals lately infested with
ticks, or one recovered OF fever, Is nee
essary for the subject to furnish the
blood to inoculate.
This COW we must tie securely. Twist
cord about her neck as nearly to the
shoulders as possible, in order to swell out
the jugular vein with blood. This swol-
len blood vessel is then tapped. and as
much blood as needed drawn. This fluid
when freshly caught win work in a veteri-
nary surgeons hypodermic syringe. with
out defibrinating. The regulation size OF
these syringes will hold enough when
two-thirds or three-fourths full to inocu-
late two animals. Hence, IL one has but
two northern bred cattle to inoculate,
there will arise no necessity OF dehorina-
ton of the blood.
If one has more than two cattle to oper-
ate one, more than one syringe viii be
required, or else the blood that has stood
until coagulated will have to be reduced
to a fluid state. Straining through mos
quito netting, two thicknesses OF more,
will accomplish the purpose as well as
any other way know Of delibrination.
1t is positively necessary that the blood
shall flow freely through the needle OF the
syringe The best place to inoculate is
in the folds Of the skin under the neck,
near the fore legs, where the skin is both
thin and loose.
Everything used should be antiseptica1-
ly clean. All successful surgery Is de-
pendent upon this avoidance of introdu-
cling undesired disease germs into the
flesh Of the patient. For this purpose.
generally use a weak solution Of carbolic
acid, into which rest submerged until
needed all the surgical instruments, nee
dies and even the cloth through which
shall later strain the blood of the subject.
The instruments required include glass
barreled veterinary surgeons hypoder-
mic needle, a heam, a surgeons needle
threaded, all these in a basin OF water
carrying, say three per cent of carbolic
acid. The threaded needle is only to take
a stitch over the cut place in the jugular
to stop the flow of blood. I emphasize
the necessity Of the hypodermic needle
being OF veterinary surgeons size, and
glass barreled. These instruments are
generally made of hard rubber, and If one
were used with other than glass barrel,
the operator could not see the amount OF
blood taken up by the syringe, nor the
amount of the dose injected into the ami
NAL. The size of dose has not yet been
proven as to what amount of blood is best
to inject I have used from two cubic
centimetres to three and one-half C. C.
in one infection without observing
much, If any, difference in result. A Gu
bic centimetre is equal in amount to about
16 drops or say two centimetres equal
to 80 5-1O minims. I try to guage the dose
for a qearling at IL cubic centimetres.
Fever has resulted from my injections
of blood showing temperatures between
los and log and running over log on the
18th day following incubation. Red
water has also been observed, but no ia
tai effects so far.
Others using my tested thermometer
have recorded higher temperatures and
still no deaths from fever.
To recapitulate. Now is the time to IN
oeulate cattle brought from north of the
fever line. One may buy young northern
cattle with assurance Of very small loss
by fever after incubation, as against
about 20 per cent loss without immunizing.
Any points not clear to the reader re-
garding this operation. will be fully an
swered through this department of The
Atlanta Journal.
B. w. HUNT