166 ON INOCULATION AS A MEANS FOE THE 



ated and cast off the tow and excess of virus, and ended favour- 

 ably. Those that were inoculated in the tail were weak in the 

 lumbar region, and had to be assisted to rise; none that were 

 inoculated in the fore-arm suffered in that way." 



Those who have had recourse to inoculation in Great Britain 

 are unanimous in their selection of the tail, and entirely on 

 account of the less formidable results. The conclusions of 

 Willems have been ratified in this country, and our personal 

 experience entirely agrees with them. The swelling from the 

 operation we have invariably found sufficiently serious and ex- 

 tensive; the nearer we approach the soft parts the greater danger 

 has been apprehended. Continental veterinarians favourable to 

 inoculation also agree in the sole performance of the operation 

 near the point of the tail. Professor Gamgee says : — " If 

 operated severely, and higher up, great exudation occurs, which 

 spreads upwards, invades the areolar tissue round the rectum 

 and other pelvic organs, and death soon puts an end to the 

 animal's excruciating sufferings." 



Selection of the Proper Virus. — We have adopted the following 

 plan, which we believe is the one usually made use of by practi- 

 tioners. An animal is selected which is in the early stages of a 

 mild form of contagious pleuro-pneumonia, and slaughtered, and 

 a portion of the lung is taken, and after being incised in several 

 directions, is placed upon a strainer within a suitable bowl or 

 basin of stone, glass, or earthenware, and covered with flannel 

 or cloth sufficiently to preserve warmth and freedom from dust 

 and foreign matters. A clear yellow fluid exudes from the 

 diseased tissue, and this constitutes the fluid used for inoculation 

 from the supposed existence of the so-called " virus " of conta- 

 gious pleuro-pneumonia. When it is necessary to preserve this 

 fluid for future inoculation, glass tubes are made use of, being 

 three or four inches long, about three-eighths of an inch in dia- 

 meter, both ends of which are sealed in the blow-pipe. All 

 parts of the lung are not suitable, only those in mild stages of 

 disease are to be made use of, which are known by their being 

 distended by the fluid referred to. Parts in advanced stages, 

 such as hepatization or becoming gangrenous, must be avoided, 

 for the most baneful effects follow their use, and set aside the 

 usually acknowledged results of proper inoculation. Care is 

 likewise required in making the necessary puncture or incision, 

 as untoward results equally follow such that are made with 

 blunt instruments, and when they pierce the bones, are made to 

 create useless irritation. 



Effects on the System. — Professor Gamgee thus sums up the 

 results of inoculation : — " If the operation be properly performed 

 with Ipnph that is not putrid, and the incisions are not made 

 too deep, the results of the operation are limited to local exudation 



