26 INOCULATION AS A PREVENTION OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 



handle, and is four inches long, three-sixteenths of an inch 

 broad, thin, flexible, slightly curved, and with a lancet-shaped 

 point, furnished with a slit or eye half an inch long, and about a 

 quarter of an inch from the point. Across the eye it is slightly 

 broader than at any other part, so as to facilitate its being easily 

 inserted and withdrawn. 



To perform the operation quickly, and with as little disturb- 

 ance and pain as possible, the operator requires assistance, two 

 men and a lad at least, one of the former to hold the animal by 

 the nose, the other one to directly assist the operator by holding 

 the tail with his left hand, while with his right he steadies the 

 haunch. The lad is required to hold in readiness the saucer or 

 vessel containing the threads, which are now supposed all ar- 

 ranged ready for use, saturated with the virus and doubled into 

 lengths of about four inches. 



All being now ready, lay hold of the end of the tail, and clip 

 the hair close off from its under surface from the tip to about 

 four or five inches upwards, then turning the tail round, so that 

 its under surface is lying upwards and firmly held in the palm of 

 the hand, the first incision is made with the rowelling scissors, 

 about an inch from the tip, then another about two inches or so 

 higher up. The incision should be only through the skin, and 

 there should be little or no bleeding. The needle is then 

 inserted at the lower incision, and passed quickly upwards and 

 out at the upper incision, care being taken not to go too deep 

 with it. One of the doubled threads is then inserted into the 

 eye at the point of the needle, and the latter is carefully with- 

 drawn and in such a way as not to strip the lymph oft' the 

 thread, which latter of course is left in. The operation requires 

 about two minutes time only, and the first step towards inocula- 

 tion is complete. 



In the case of all inoculated cattle, but especially when these 

 are milk cows, the operator must not forget that the well-being 

 of the animal and consequent success of the operation, irre- 

 spective of arresting the disease, is now largely dependent upon 

 the care which he is now prepared to bestow on them. He 

 should caution the attendants and milkers to be very careful in 

 their handling of the animals, until out of his hands, they must 

 not be kicked or struck, especially about the rump ; without 

 thinking anything of it I know people are very apt to do so, if 

 a cow is lying when they think she should be standing, or if 

 troublesome to milk or muck out. Now is the time also to see 

 that the precautions in respect to the comfort of the animal, 

 which I have pointed out as necessary, are in force. The con- 

 tinental inoculators give a doze of purgative medicine ; I have 

 seen no need for it, but I always recommend a little sulphur 

 daily in the food from about the fifth or sixth day. A table 



