186 MODERN BIOLOGIC THERAPEUSIS 



membering that it requires time to properly per- 

 form this portion of the operation. In general, 

 the less the skin is irritated the less is the dan- 

 ger of complications. Rubbing in of the virus 

 is very important, and with skilled vaccinators 

 and good virus, every vaccination in a primary 

 subject will take; while with unskilled vaccina- 

 tors there are usually negative results, due gen- 

 erally to insufficient rubbing in of the virus, or 

 to deep scratches causing bleeding which washes 

 out the virus, or to scratches which are too su- 

 perficial. After the virus has been applied and 

 carefully rubbed in, the serum on the vacci- 

 nated area should be allowed to become thor- 

 oughly dry; the length of time which this takes 

 will vary from fifteen minutes to one-half hour. 



AFTER-CARE 



After performing a vaccination, the physician 

 should keep clearly in mind three important 

 points: (1) Usually no dressing is necessary, 

 but great care must be taken to keep the vacci- 

 nated arm or leg clean and to protect the vacci- 

 nated surface from dirty clothing and from in- 

 fection by scratching or rubbing. For this pur- 

 pose an oblong piece of dry sterile gauze of two 



