ANIMAL INOCULATION QI 



CHAPTER XIV 



ANIMAL INOCULATION 



USED: (i) For obtaining pure cultures; (2) to determine 

 virulence; (3) to regain virulence of an organism that has 

 become exhausted in artificial media; (4) to furnish a suit- 

 able culture-medium for bacteria that have so far failed to 

 grow on other media. 



The smaller rodents and birds are the ones usually employed 

 for inoculation, as rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats, mice, pigeons, 

 and chickens. These are preferred, because easily affected 

 by the various bacteria, readily obtained, and not expensive. 

 Monkeys have been used in recent years in connection with 

 syphilis and meningitis. 



The white mouse is very prolific and easily kept, and is 

 therefore a favorite animal for experiment. It lives well 

 upon a little moistened bread. A small box, perforated with 

 holes, is filled partly with sawdust, and in this ten to twelve 

 mice can be kept. When the female becomes pregnant, she 

 should be removed to a glass jar until the young have opened 

 their eyes, because the males, which have not been raised 

 together, are apt to attack each other. 



Guinea-pigs. When guinea-pigs have plenty of light and 

 air, they multiply rapidly. Therefore it is best to have them 

 in some large stall or inclosure. They can be fed upon all 

 sorts of vegetables and grasses, and require but little atten- 

 tion. 



Methods of Inoculation. I. Inhalation. Imitating the 

 natural infection, either by loading an atmosphere with the 

 germs in question or by administering them with a spray. 



II. Through skin or mucous membrane. 



III. With the food. 



Method of Cutaneous Inoculation. The ear of a mouse 

 is best suited for this procedure. A small abrasion is made with 

 the point of a lancet or needle, which has been dipped in the 

 virus or material to be inoculated. The animal is then sepa- 



