Inoculation: Mode. 77 



contracted the lung plague on exposure to infection, and 

 in periods varying from the 17th to the 136th day after 

 the operation. 



In England a commission was appointed and after a 

 Berios of experiments in 1854^5 they reported ad- 

 versely. 



Since that time inoculation has been adopted exten- 

 sively in Europe and still more largely in Australia 

 and South Africa, until to-day it is acknowledged by all 

 who have given attention to the subject that for the indi- 

 vidual animal, it is as surely protective as is vaccination 

 for small-pox, and that attacks of lung plague after suc- 

 cessful inoculation are little if at all more frequent than 

 are second attacks of variola. 



Mode of inoculating. — The material to be used in inocu- 

 lating is the fresh liquid exudation that may be pressed 

 from the substance of a lung in the earliest stage of the 

 disease. If it is to be preserved for any length of time 

 it is best done in hermetically sealed glass tubes. A 

 glass tube one-third inch in diameter is drawn out to a 

 point at each end and sealed in a blowpipe flame, the 

 whole length of the tube having been heated to redness 

 before the second end is closed. This destroys all germs 

 that may be present in, the tube and expels most of the 

 air. When the liquid has been drained from the lung 

 into a clean dish one end of the tube is immersed and 

 broken off under the surface. Immediately the fluid rises 

 in the tube and nearly fills it. The open end is again to 

 bo sealed in the blowpipe flame and the tube packed 

 away in a safe place till Avanted. 



The most eligible place to inoculate is the tip of the 

 tail, since in case of excessive swelling or threatened gan- 

 grene the diseased portion of the organ may be ciit off 

 and a possibly fatal result avoided. 



The mode of inserting the viriis differs with the opera- 

 tor. Dr. Willems plunged a lancet, charged with tlie 

 7* 



