1883.J 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



25 



LANCASTER COUNTY VACCINE FARM. 



Only Grain-Fed Stock Used. 



The Prarlitioncr, a new monthly medical 

 journal, published at Lancaster, by H. B. 

 Sti'hman, M. D., gives the foUowinsj accurate 

 and explanatory account, in the initial num- 

 ber for January, of an industry in this place 

 which ts now under fair and prosperous liead- 

 way, although years of study and arduous 

 labor on the subject have preceded the birth 

 of the project. 



What the editor of The Practitioner has 

 said, we, from what we have seen and know, 

 fully endorse as being correct in every par- 

 ticular, and that Dr. H. M. Alexander has 

 the best constructed and most convenient estab- 

 lishment, besides having the best of stork from 

 wliich to secure vaccine matter, are facts that 

 tlie profession will not deny if they see his es- 

 tahlisliment and then see those of others in 

 the same business. That the Doctor person- 

 ally attends to the inoculation of the stock, 

 and looks over every ))ackaae of virus that 

 leaves his establishment, we also know to be 

 facts. Following is the article referred to : 

 This farm, situated at Marietta, this county, 

 is located in one of the finest sections of the 

 State and besides has the extra advantage of 

 fine railroad and postal facilities. It is not 

 generally known how these farms are con- 

 ducted or by what method vaccine virus is 

 produced, and therefore, in describing Dr. 

 Alexander's method, we are confident that 

 the reader will become acquainted with not 

 only the finest, but also the most carefully kei)t 

 farm in the country. For obtaining good 

 virus only heifers from 6 months to -2 years are 

 selected, and this selection is limited to the 

 Alderney and Devonshire breeds. 



The cattle are all grain fed during a pre- 

 paratory period as well as during the time 

 they are developing the virus, and conse- 

 quentlj they are neater, more healthy and 

 cleaner than they would otherwise be. The 

 grain-fed feature is peculiar to the Alexander 

 farm. When a heifer is first selected it is 

 taken to the farm and carefully groomed sev- 

 eral times a day ; after this important prepa- 

 ration, it is taken to the doctor's stables, 

 which he had erected on his premises in order 

 that the cattle might be under his immediate 

 observation. The stables are a marvel of 

 neatness and cleanliness, as there is hardly a 

 perceptible oJor about the entire place. They 

 are erected so that the cattle may have the 

 benefit of an eastern and southeastern expos- 

 ure, and cons quently plenty of sunshine. 



The stables are also heated, which is also a 

 great impruvement over these farms generally. 

 The operating room adjoining the stable, is 

 exceptionally clean, comfortably warm, and 

 well-lighted. On the north side of the room is 

 a cistern, which supplies all the water neces- 

 sary, and running from this cistern across the 

 room at the foot of the operating tables is a 

 trough with the fioor dipping toward it from 

 either side, and consequently all the debris 

 from operating or droppings from the cattle, 

 fall into this trough and are consequently 

 easily washed a\va\. The operating tables 

 are as ingenious as they are practical, and are 

 the exclusive invention of Dr. Alexander. 

 They are thus constructed : A heavy frame- 

 work is fastened securely to the floor, in 



which rests a V-shaped table, cushioned in 

 such a manner that when the animal lies on 

 it the spinal column rests perfectly free and 

 its weight rests on that portion on the ribs 

 near the vertebrte ; at the end of the table 

 there is a hollow box which is covered with a 

 a soft cushion, upon which the heifer's head 

 rests very comfortably during the o])eration. 

 By an arrangement of rope and pulleys, this 

 table is manipulated by means of a crank, so 

 thai it can be carried across and let gently 

 drop on the animal's back, while it is standing 

 at the side of the table. This maiKeuvre 

 causes no resistance, because it indicts no 

 pain ; then after fastening several straps, one 

 man can raise her deliberately off her feet and 

 lay her squarely on her' back, which is the 

 most favorable position for operating — the 

 head of course lays on the side. 



When she is on the table, the feet are se- 

 cured by means of cushioned straps, and thus 

 the operation goes on without any interrup- 

 tion. After the operator had finished, the 

 crank is turned again and the heifer lands on 

 her feet. This table works so admirably that 

 when our townsman, Chas. A. Ileinitsh, saw 

 it, he said ; " I always considered this brutal 

 treatment, but on such an apparatus, it is 

 really a kindness." 



We will now suppose the calf is ready for 

 operation — both sides of the upper and inner 

 parts of the hind legs are thoroughly lathered 

 and cleanly shaven and afterwards carefully 

 washed with sponges. 



Then this surface is thoroughly slapped 

 with the hand in order to bring the lilood to 

 the surface, preparatory to inoculation, which 

 done by previously scarifying the part that is 

 to receive the virus. From 7 to 10 days after 

 the inoculation the vesicles will begin to ma- 

 turate, and the animal is again brought on the 

 table, and the parts previously shaven are 

 again scrupulously washed and sponged in 

 order that no particles of dust or dirt may 

 come in contact with the virus. The ivory 

 points and quills are then coated with the 

 exuding virus, fastened upon rajks and laid 

 aside to dry— aftei" wards they are coated a 

 second time from another heifer, thus not 

 only hermetically sealing the first coating, 

 but also giving the benefit of the virus from 

 two heifers. This lymph is also put into 

 glass tubes, but for obvious reasons the dry 

 form is preferable. 



Crusts are also found scattered over the de- 

 nuded parts, and they have been quite popu- 

 lar of late ; but it is urged against them, that 

 in drying a large surface is exposed rendering 

 them more or less inert, and if the surround- 

 ing epithelinni, which is valueless, be broken 

 oft', the crust does not present a salable ap- 

 pearance. 



Dr. Alexander, appreciating the force of 

 this objection, has substituted his patent tablet, 

 though he furnishes crusts if desired. These 

 tablets are simply the crusts deprived of the 

 dried epithelium, and while yet damp well 

 crushed and the mass then moi-stened with 

 pure lymph, after which they are pressed into 

 tablet form. 



This is by far the most desirable form of 

 the virus; tliis is less liable to become dry, as 

 was proven by exjieriment. 



One of these tablets was exposed to the air 

 for several months, and afterwards the central 



position was used in vaccination, and the 

 result was a successful taking. 



We cannot omit referring to the doctor's 

 most original and ingenious method of drying 

 and preserving the virus in its different forms. 

 By a peculiar construction and arrangement 

 of air chambers and absorbents he is able to 

 maintain nn even temperature, botli summer 

 and winter, of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenlieit. 



Here the quills, points, etc., are kept, and 

 it is surprising how well the object desired is 

 obtained. 



The packing rooms are in harmony with tlie 

 entire surroundings — bright, airy and com- 

 fortable. 



The packings are simply unique and surpa-ss 

 everything in this line we have ever seen. 



Everything is put up in glass ; the points 

 are inclosed in small test-tubes, well corked 

 and conseqiieutly not liable to any metallic 

 contamination. 



The quills are equally protected. The 

 talilets or crusts are first wrapped in tissue 

 and parafline paper, then tin-foil and after- 

 wards imbedded in cotton and enclosed in an 

 appropriate bottle. Indeed these packings 

 must be seen to be appreciated : they are on 

 exhibition at the drug store of Chas. A. 

 Heinitsh, and in our opinion are all that can 

 be desired. 



When Dr. Alexander started his farm, in 

 order to be sure that he sent out none but re- 

 liable virus, he entered into an arrangement 

 with a hospital in Philadelphia to test the 

 virus from every heifer — if it was first-class 

 he sent it out, if not it was thrown eway ; he 

 still continues this practice, sending fresh 

 virus to the city every day, and as might be 

 imagined it has been of gtreat service to him. 



The profession appreciate a good thing 

 when they see it, as is evident from the de- 

 mand for the.se goods. 



By actual calculation we find th;ii during 

 the first two weeks of this month the doctor 

 filled orders for 12,220 points, not to speak of 

 tablets and quills which are also greatly 

 sought after. W^e know Dr. Alexander to be 

 thoroughly conscientious and strictly reliable 

 and consequently we heartily wish him suc- 

 cess in his enterprise. 



THE SNOW FLEA APPEARS. 

 A Plague of Sibeiian Wastes Brought Here 



When the lamented Poet-Traveler Bayard 

 Taylor wrote of .snow-flakes as "the wild 

 white bees of Winter" it is doubtful that 

 he imagined the pretty fancy contained a large 

 amount of truth. Such, however, is the case, 

 and from recent im|)ortant discoveries made 

 in this city by students and professors of 

 one of the academies it has been shown 

 that the beautiful snow of poetry bids fair to 

 become a provoking reality. About three 

 months ago there arrived in this city a box 

 which, on being opened, apparently contained 

 about a pint of snow. A note which accom- 

 panied it stated that the contents had been 

 collected from the deck of the British steam- 

 ship Glenchester, during a snow squall off the 

 Banks of Xewfouudland, while on a voyage 

 from Hull to Montreal, and that the Captain, 

 Edward Manning, had been advised to for- 

 ward the specimens to the Academy to be 

 investigated. The matter was kept quiet, 

 and only within the last day or so has the 



