Report on protective inoculation against tick fever : an account of an experimental inquiry into its effect on cattle, and on meat and milk, together with some notes on protective measures other than inoculation / by FrankTidswell.

Tidswell, Frank, 1867-1941.

Date:: 1899

Credit: Report on protective inoculation against tick fever : an account of an experimental inquiry into its effect on cattle, and on meat and milk, together with some notes on protective measures other than inoculation / by FrankTidswell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

18/20 (page 14)

$LIST OF THE LITERATURE REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT. 1. Smith and Kilhournc. Investigations into tlie Nature, Cause, and Prevention of Texas or Soutliern C^attle Fever. Bulletin No. 1. Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agrieulture. Washington, ISO.’?. 2. W. Williams, M.R.C.V.S. Veterinary Journal, 1896. 3. J. Sidney Hunt, M.R.C.S. On the Reproductive Forms of the Micro-organism of Tick Fever. Queensland Ag. Jnl., V. II, Pt. 3. 4. Some of the Ascertained Results up to date of Inoculation as a Preventive of Tick Fever. Brisbane, May 27th, 1898. 5. Report of the Chief Inspector of Stock and Registrar of Brands. Brisbane, 1897. 0. Queensland Agricultural Journal, V. Ill, Pt. 3, Sept., 1888, p. 235. 7. Dr. J. Sidney Hunt and Mr. William Collins. Report on Tick Fever. Brisbane, 1896. 8. C. J. Pound. Technicpie of tlie Method of Preventive Inoculation ; also. Preventive Inoculation for I’ick Fever. Pamphlets issued by the Queensland Government. NOTE. It has not been thought necessary to publisli the lengthy appendices in extemo, but the following brief description, together with the extracts quoted in the report, will serve to show tliat the investigation has been conducted with tlioroughness and scrupulous attention to scientific detail. The experiments were performed on thirteen dairy cows siij)plied from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, and accommodated at the Maritime Quarantine Station, North Head, in buildings specially erected for the purpose. The general management of the eows was such as would have existed in an ordinary dairy. After allowing as much time for the animals to settle down in their new quarters as the urgency of the matter permitted, they were subjected to a series of preliminary observations, in order to ascertain their exact state of health before commeneing operations. When this had been done the general plan was to inject the animals with either recovered or virulent blood, note the efi’ects, and later on inject with virulent blood to test the immunity. During the whole time there was kept going the series of observations to be mentioned below, and in all cases care was taken to make check observations on untreated animals. The inoculations were made with a previously sterilised syringe, the needle being usually inserted under the skin just behind the shoulder. The operation was always performed wdth strict surgical eleaidiness, the part being shaved, washed with soap and water, and then with earbolic acid lotion, before injection. The injeetion produced a sw'elling which passed off within twenty-four hours, and, beyond slight inflammation occasionally, no local ill effects were observed. Both recovered and virulent blood were in the first instance obtained from Queensland, the Government of that Colony kindly complying with our request for a supply. When the disease had been set up we were able to obtain further supplies of blood from our own cow's. A detailed record \vas kept containing the complete data concerning the treatment and progress of events in each of the animals experimented uijon. The particulars included observations on the pulse, temperature, blood, milk, urine, bowel discharges, etc. The pulse was taken twice daily between 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock in the morning and 3 o’clock and 5 o’clock in the evening. The temperature w as taken twice daily immediately after milking. The blood was examined every day during the period of illness, and after that every few days till the experiment terminated. The examinations comprised estimation of the haunoglobin by Gower’s ha?moglobinometer, with occasional check readings with Fleishl’s ha-mometer, and enumerations of the cor])uscles by means of Gower’s h,-emocytometer. The milk yielded was weighed on a spring-balance immediately after milkins. Chemical analyses of milk were made three times a week. The samples were taken from the milking-pail into sterilised flasks, the milk being well mixed. They were conveyed to the Chemical Laboratory of the Health Department within a few hours afterwards, where their analysis was at once put in train by the Government Analyst. Samples of urine were obtained as often as was considered necessarjq and were analysed in the Biological Laboratory of the Health Department. The records further contained information upon matters ascertained by ordinary physical examination, such as general health, appetite, eoiidition, habits, etc. Keport$