474 Biology in America 



philanthropic and commercial in purpose, the character of 

 these agencies is as varied as are the objects of their con- 

 cern. Space forbids any adequate consideration of them all, 

 but we may glance for a moment at the work of one or two, 

 which are broadest in scope and foremost in accomplishment. 



When we are enjoying our roast beef or leg of mutton, how 

 often do we stop to consider the care which Uncle Sam takes 

 to insure our safety in partaking thereof? At every slaugh- 

 ter-house and packing plant engaged in interstate trade the 

 U. S. Bureau of Animal Industry maintains inspectors whose 

 duty it is to prevent diseased meat from entering into this 

 commerce. When the animal arrives at the slaughter-house 

 it is examined "on the hoof" before butchering, and if passed 

 separate examinations are made of neck glands and viscera, 

 and finally, if the animal passes muster, the meat itself when 

 cleaned and dressed is inspected, and the government's ap- 

 proval is stamped upon it, before it enters refrigerator car 

 or room preparatory to shipment and sale. 



In the preparation of the many biological remedies on the 

 market today, such as vaccines, antitoxins and glandular 

 extracts of various sorts (pituitrin, thyroidin, adrenalin, 

 etc.), yet greater care is exercised to guard against con- 

 tamination of any sort. All establishments preparing such 

 materials for interstate commerce must obtain a U. S. license 

 before the government will permit them to do business. Be- 

 fore granting such a license an inspection is made of the 

 premises where the work will be done by an agent of the 

 U. S. Public Health Service. Such inspection is repeated at 

 intervals to see that the plant is up to standard, and the 

 products themselves are tested for purity (both chemical and 

 biological) to determine their efficiency and safety. 



As an illustration of the care which is taken to safeguard 

 the user of these products, let us follow for a moment the 

 method of preparing one of them, namely, smallpox vaccine. 

 This vaccine is the pus which forms in little pustules on cat- 

 tle infected with cowpox. The animals used in its prepara- 

 tion are usually young bulls or heifers. These are quaran- 

 tined for several weeks, during which time they are care- 

 fully inspected for any possible disease and tested for tu- 

 berculosis. If found healthy they are given a careful scrub- 

 bing with soap and water, and some weak antiseptic and 

 then taken to the vaccine laboratory. The operating and 

 propagating rooms are constructed with a view to the utmost 

 cleanliness, the floors being of concrete and the walls and 

 ceilings enameled. The interiors and fittings are washed at 

 frequent intervals with disinfectants. In the laboratory the 

 animal is placed on a special operating table, the abdomen 



