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31. In July I reported to the Public Health Committee re
Vaccine Calves, as follows :—
"A letter has been received from Camberwell Borough
Council, asking this Council to support a request that
the carcases of calves used at the Government's Vaccine
Establishment should be destroyed, instead of being
returned to the Contractors to be sold for food.
I am of opinion that there is no justification for this request.
The calves used for vaccine lymph are specially selected
animals. They are inoculated with a disease so mild
that there are usually no general symptoms. They are
then killed to make sure from anatomical examination
that they have no disease which had not been detected
by outward observation. They usually gain weight
while they are maintained at the Vaccine Establishment.
If any sign of disease is detected in them when
slaughtered, stich as Tuberculosis, the carcases are
destroyed, and the lymph which has been obtained from
tJtiem is not iised. Though they have been inoculated
by an exceedingly mild disease, when they are killed
even that disease has altogether passed away, so that
the calves are in absolute health when killed.