Report of experimental work on protective inoculation for anthrax and quarter ill / by William Robertson and John Penberthy.

  • Robertson, William, 1830-1887.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of experimental work on protective inoculation for anthrax and quarter ill / by William Robertson and John Penberthy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the remaining four ; the whole to be subject, save for inoculation, to precisely same conditions. To facilitate reference, the calves were marked and known as 1, 2, 3 and 4, and A, B, C and D. On the morning of November 12th, a large number of agriculturists, veterinary surgeons and others had assembled to witness the operation. Examination of the dead calf revealed a clear case of Quarter 111, apparently free from putrefactive change. Pieces of muscle from the most affected part were then taken and the juice obtained by squeezing through coarse linen. After diluting with water, the material for inoculation was ready. Calf No. 1 was then cast and secured with ropes, the jugular vein laid bare by dissection, and with the utmost precaution, to avoid contaminating the connective tissues, a few drops of the diluted muscle-juice were injected into the blood stream by means of a very fine hypodermic syringe. No. 2 was treated in the same way. In the case of Nos. 3 and 4, the material was introduced into the jugular vein by passing the hypodermic syringe point directly into it through the skin without previous dissection. Duly marked for identification, the eight calves were turned into a pasture and treated in every way alike, except that the temperatures of the inoculated were taken twice daily for eleven days. The register on page 14 shows that the heat- regulating functions were scarcely noticeably disturbed. The thermometry was undertaken by Major Percy, who personally superintended it, and Mr. Tomes, bailiff, who evinced the greatest care and interest throughout, states that up to the 24th all the calves appeared perfectly well. It was previously arranged that at the expiration of seven days the virtue of this intravenous inoculation should be tested by injection into the muscles of virulent matter obtained from a naturally occurring case of Quarter III; the whole eight being subjected to the same treatment. To obtain the fresh virus for this purpose we put ourselves in communication with several stock-owners and veterinary surgeons. On receipt of a telegram advising us of a case in the practice of Mr. Brett, M.R.C.V.S. of Mansfield, on November 23rd, Mr. Penberthy proceeded thither, informing Major Percy that he expected to be able to apply the test at Hodnet Hall on the following day. On arrival at Mansfield the animal was still alive and suffering from Quarter 111; but this being of a mild type and not likely to die immediately, we deemed it not quite satisfactory for so crucial a test. We determined to utilize this case for another purpose, and communicated our intention to Major Percy. By a happy coincidence preliminary signs of the disease were noticed in a heifer at a farm near Hodnet Hall, and being made aware of this fact by telegram, Mr.