Year: 1874




ing visited and inspected the COW stables,
in that city, where the process of pro-
ducing the animal virus that is supposed
to act as preventive of smallpox is
carried on, initiates the public into the
mysteries of this singular trade: Hav-
ing purchased heifer of fair breed, the
better the breed the greater being the
return of the virus, it is stalled for a
short time, and well fed with good win
ter diet. When ready for the operation,
the beast is led out into the open space,
and by means of ingeniously arranged
straps, is tied to fiat board. When
thus securely fastened, the board is
turned flat upon the floor, with the
beast stretched out upon it powerless.
A pair of scissors are produced, and the
rough hair on the buttocks, the udder,
and the belly, places which it is i'm
possible for the beast to rub against
anything, is cut off. Then lathering
these parts, they are closely shaven with
an ordinary razor, until the skin is per-
fectly exposed, and free from dirt. With
a lancet, or the point of sharp blade
of knife. slight incisions are then made,
and to each little vaccine matter is ap-
piled. Ordinarily, as many as 100
places are tapped on the animal, and
treated in this way. The operation
satisfactorily accomplished, the board
is again raised to a perpendicular po-
sition, and the beast released. 1t is led
to the stall, fed, and otherwise care
fully tended. For four, five OF six days
no results are attained. There is n
slight, gradual increase of inflammation,
and the beast appears TO experience n
slight pain, but never so greatly as to
interfere with its condition. At the end
of week it is ready to give its first sup
ply of virus. Led from the stall, it is
again tied TO the boards, and the places
at which the vaccine matter is exUding,
arepricked with thepointsof small pieces
of bone. on each of which enough is
taken to vaccine at least one adult per
son. This operation is repeated until
the virus matter has all worked ont
from the animal, and it is then placed
aside. and another beast operated upon
in the same manner. The supply OF
virus is thus kept constant and fresh.
MISERABLE DEATH or ! HiSEE.
That was a sad fate which befel Mar
garet Fitzsimmons, aged 50, few days
ago in the city of New York. 4 po-
liceman discovered what he supposed
was heap of rags lying upon the steps
OF a house. A closer examination dis
closed pale, trembling, emaciated old
woman, whose thin apparel WAS far from
sufficient either to hide her nakedness
or to preserve warmth. The officer took
the woman to the station, and from
thence 10 the hospital, for 1t was eyi-
dent that she had but little longer 10
live. Food was offered her and she de-
voured il as would a ravenous animal.
She stated that she had not eaten any
thing for several days, and that she was
starving She was too weak to endure
a bath, and her clothes We're removed
and she was placed in a bed. Her dress
was tattered, black with dirt, and filed
with vermin and when it was carelessly
/ thrown aside by an attendant, the old
! creature sprang out of bed and seized
and chuckled over it as though it were
precious beyond comparison. The ex-
( ertion was too much for her, and soon
after she died. Upon examining the
dress il was found to be absolutely
quilted with money. 1t contained nine
teen pockets, each Of which was filed
with money, from pennies to dollars.
About $500 were found. including SS in
pennies The bank bills, of which
there were many, were absolutely rotten
and crumbling to pieces. The unfortu-
nate old woman was n miser-one of
those queer persons whom not even the
pangs of hunger could induce to spend
sufficient TO buy food. She had no
home, and had evidently been begging
and starving herself for years, just in
order to scrape together the $500 which
was found in the worm eaten dress.