Remarkable New Claims For Spahlinger Cattle Serum

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18867, 19 November 1935, Page 10

Remarkable New Claims For Spahlinger Cattle Serum

LONDON, October S. DEMARKABLE results have been obtained from drastic official tests carried out in Ulster on cattle with the tuberculosis-scrum devised by Mr Henry Spahlinger, the Swiss scientist. The tests were made ,on a 40-aero farm. They were conducted by Mr H. G.Lamont, Mr W. R. Kerr, and Mr P. L. Shanks, .officers of the Veterinary Research Division of the Ministry of Agriculture of Northern Irelaud. In the official report, the conclusions are summarised as follows: — "Mr Spahlinger's vaccine conferred mi the vaccinated animals a high degree of immunity. "Jt is most, unlikely that any similar degree of infection to which the vaccinated animals were subjected would be met with under natural conditions, and it is difficult- to resist, the conclusion that in Ibis vaccine there exists a, means of securing a, high degree of immunity to any form of tubercular infection' acquired under natural conditions." Further tests are proposed to ascer tain tin 1 ("stent, of the serum's efficacy. Mr Spahlinger spent a vast amount of money on his researches, and for 10 years his formula, not then disclosed in detail, lay in his bank as security for an overdraft. Yn 1932, however, Sir Lyndon Macassey, K.C., came to his rescue. lie was joined, by the Aga Khan, the Marquess of Crewe, the late Sir Arthur Steel-.Mait.land, the late Sii James Watt, Sir Bruce Bruce-Porter, and Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice, and a sufficient sum was raised to release the formula. Results Reviewed. If the hopes held out, by the report are realised, Mr Spahlinger will have to his credit the greatest, discovery in the history of animal diseases. It means .that in a. matter of, perhaps, five years wo may bo aide to stamp out, tuberculosis from our dairy herds almost: completely, with consequent .favorable reactions on human health. For it has been said that in Scotland alone over 100(1 people die | every year from the effects of bovlnp tuberculosis. Instead of the meagre total of f>X dairy herds in England, Scotland and Wales now registered under the tuberculosis (attested herds) scheme, the great majority of ,our dairy cattle, of which it is now, estimated that 7(1 per cent, are tubercular in one form or another, could qualify for this test on the grounds of immunity from the disease. Three Groups The Ministry decided to make the tests as a result of evidence submitted by Sir Lyndon Macassey following .experiments at Pctygards, Norfolk. Thirty-two calves were purchased for the experiments. Their dams and sires had all previously passed the tuberculin test. The calves were reared out of doors. They were divided into three main groups," with three other groups, each of two animals, used for particular experiments. The vaccine used Mas a "simplified" vaccine, relatively cheap to pro duco and conferring immunity f.or a long period, developed by Mr Spoillinger as an improvement on his earlier and more expensive vaccine necessitating a series of vaccinations, 'the three main groups were: — 1. Six animals inoculated will) varying doses of Mr Spahlinger's oh! dead simplified vaccine, prepared in 1926. 2. Eleven animals vaccinated with his simplified vaccine, prepared in 1020. 3. Nine animals not vaccinated, to act as controls. The inoculations were carried .out by Mr Spahlinger or by the Ministry's veterinary officers under his supervision. This was done on December (5, 1931, and from that date Mr Spahlinger had no personal contact with the experiment. On the date of vaccination the calves varied in age from four to six months. Lethal Dose Given Six months after the, vaccination Mr Spahlinger directed that the results be tested by injecting into the blood stream of all the animals, through the jugular vein, a, lethal d.ose of living virulent bovine tubercle bacilli. The Ministry demurred on the ad vice of Us veterinary officers, on the gi-ound that no vaccine could stand Mich a drastic test, for the dose would kill a normal animal in a month. Bui Mr Spall linger insisted. A lethal (lose, containing approximately 100,000,00(1 virulent living tubercle bacilli, was injected into the blood .stream of every animal. Of the nine tin vaccinated animals, two had already died before this in-