AMAZING RESULTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16212, 9 December 1926, Page 7

AMAZING RESULTS

SPAHLINGER’S VACCINES

SUCCESSFUL TESTS

A NEW HORIZON OPENED.

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.,

iSycincy Sun Cables.l (Received December 9. noon.) GENEVA, Dec. 8.

Spahlinger’s bovine tests have been successfully completed. He succeeded in immunising cattle against tuberculosis on the same principle as human beings are vaccinated against, smallpox. Tho experiments, were conducted under the strict .supervision of M. Antonine Bron, president of the Geneva Government, M. Larue, and M. Montant, official veterinary surgeon. Two groups of calves of the same age and breed were all certified free from tuberculosis. Spalilinger vaccinated one group with the simplified bovine, vaccines on which lie lias been experimenting for years. Spajilinger had refused offers to commercialise the vaccines because lie wanted to produce them so cheaply that they would be within the reach of everyone. Therefore he concentrated on simplifying the methods of immunisation, and tiio methods are now described in variants forms. Quantities of the simplified yii"cines were used on heifers with a view to ascertaining, firstly, what combination of vaccines and what doesage 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 injected with massive doses of the virus. OFFJCALS IMPRESSED After Spahlingcr’s vaccination the virus was tjtken from virulent cultures of bovine tubercle and rendered hypertoxie by Spahlinger’s method of irritating the strains, after which equal quantities of those germs were placed in ampullas and handed to M. Bron, in whose possession they retained until the calves had been injected. After the virus had been injected all the* animals were placed in the keeping of Geneva State officials who alone had access to them during the experiments.

“ The results of the tests can only be described as amazing. Ail the cattle vaccinated with Spahlingcv’s simplified bovine vaccines successfully resisted infection, and showed no trace of tuberculosis at autopsy,” says M. Larue, “whereas all an vaccinated 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 maladies.”