ANTI-RINDERPEST INOCULATION OF CATTLE                  9

         By observing the reactions in the goats used for virus production, however, the
operator can make himself reasonably assured that he is actually inoculating living
virus into the cattle to be immunised, and an almost unlimited supply of fresh and
reliable virus for immediate use from cheap and easily procurable animals is also
available when the goat virus method is adopted.

                           14. HYPODERMIC SYRINGES.

         At least two syringes are necessary, namely, a small syringe for the inoculation
of virulent blood and a large syringe for the inoculation of serum. The " Record "
type of syringe is recommended since it has a glass barrel and the contents can thus
easily be seen at the time of injection. When a syringe having a metal barrel is
used, care must be taken to make sure that it is working properly, and contains the
full quantity of fluid before an injection is made. Syringes of one c. c. capacity
for virus, and 50 or 60 c. c. capacity for serum are convenient sizes to use. Another
type of large syringe is the so-called " Stockman " syringe in which the barrel can be
refilled without withdrawing the needle from the seat of inoculation or detaching
its nozzle. All syringes must be cleansed and sterilised by boiling for at least 10
minutes before use. It is necessary to detach the component parts of glass barrel
syringes and place them separately in water for boiling, otherwise the glass barrel is
likely to crack.

                           15. THE RINDERPEST REACTION IN CATTLE.

         A typical rinderpest reaction following the injection of virus into a highly
susceptible animal starts by a sharp rise in temperature at the earliest on the 3rd
day and usually not later than the fifth day after inoculation. Fever may last for
from 3 to 6 days and towards the end of this period in severe reactions other
specific symptoms may occur, namely, the appearance of vesicles and ulcers in the
mouth, and diarrhœa. With the onset of diarrhœa the temperature usually drops
rapidly. In the most severe reactions, the temperature becomes sub-normal and
death may follow between about the 10th to 15th day after injection of virus.
(Chart 5). In experimental infection with rinderpest therefore the reaction is
characteristic and extends over a very limited period of time.

         In " plains " cattle used as controls very severe reactions do not always occur,
but graded reactions of the same type are to be expected in them, which may
consist of fever only. A similar reaction consisting of fever alone, may also be
exhibited in some of the cattle under immunisation. (Chart 6).

         Any other type of reaction that may be seen is due to a complicating infection,
usually from protozoan parasites, as described below.