SPAHLINGER VACCINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 11

SPAHLINGER VACCINE

SUCCESSFUL BOVINE TESTS. IMMUNISATION ACHIEVED. HOPE FOR HUMAN VICTIMS. (Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) GENEVA, December 8. M. Spahlinger’s bovine tests were successfully completed. He succeeded in immunising cattle against tuberculosis on the same principle as that on which human beings are vaccinated against smallpox. The experiments were conducted under the strict supervision of M. Autouine Bron, President of the Geneva Government, and M. Larue and M. Montant, official veterinary surgeons. Two groups of calves, of the same age, weight, and breed were all certified as free from tuberculosis. M. Spahlinger vaccinated one group with his simplified bovine vaccines, on which he has been experimenting for years. He had refused offers to commercialise these vaccines, because he wanfed to produce them so cheaply that they would bo within the reach of everyone. Therefore he concentrated on simplifying the methods of immunisation and curing. The methods arc now described in various forms. Quantities of the simplified vaccines were used on heifers with a view to ascertaining, first, what combination of vaccines and what dosage would prevent a vaccinated calf from contracting tuberculosis when inoculated with a moderate dose of virulent virus, such as is encountered by animals in normal life, and, secondly, what combination and dosage would prevent a vaccinated calf from contracting tuberculosis when infected with massive doses of virus. After M. Spahlinger’s vaccination tests, virus was taken from virulent cultures of bovine tubercle and rendered hypcrtoxic by M. Spahlinger’s method of irritating the strains, after which equal quantities of these germs were placed in ampullas and handed to M. Bron, in whose possession they remained until the calves had been injected. After the virus had been injected all the animals were placed in the keeping of the Geneva State officials, who alone had access to them during the experiments. ‘•The results of the tests can only be described as amazing. All the cattle vaccinated with M. Spahlinger’s simplified bovine vaccines successfully resisted infection and showed no trace of tuberculosis at the autopsy,” says M. Larue, ‘‘whereas all the unvaccinatcd calves had developed progressive tuberculosis.” M. Bron, confirming the result, adds: “The experiment was successful beyond all hopes. The results now open a new horizon of preventive immunisation of cattle, and justify the hope that before long humanity will be relieved of one of its most appalling maladis.” —Sidney Sun Cable.