Inoculation Health Dictionary

A serious disease occurring in sheep and cattle, and in those who tend them or handle the bones, skins and ?eeces – even long after removal of the latter from the animals. It is sometimes referred to as malignant pustule, wool-sorters’ disease, splenic fever of animals, or murrain. It is now a rare condition in the United Kingdom. The cause is a bacillus (B. anthracis) which grows in long chains and produces spores of great vitality. These spores retain their life for years, in dried skins and ?eeces; they are not destroyed by boiling, freezing, 5 per cent carbolic lotion, or, like many bacilli, by the gastric juice. The disease is communicated from a diseased animal to a crack in the skin (e.g. of a farmer or butcher), or from contact with contaminated skins or ?eeces. Nowadays skins are handled wet, but if they are allowed to dry so that dust laden with spores is inhaled by the workers, serious pneumonia may result. Instances have occurred of the disease being conveyed on shaving brushes made from bristles of diseased animals. A few countries are believed to have developed anthrax as a weapon of war to be delivered by shells or rockets, despite international agreements to ban such weapons.

In the wake of the devastating terrorist attacks on buildings in New York and Washington on 11 September 2001, modi?ed anthrax spores were sent by mail from an unidenti?ed source to some prominent Americans. Several people were infected and a few died. This was the ?rst known use of anthrax as a terror weapon.

Prevention is most important by disinfecting all hides, wool and hair coming from areas of the world. An e?cient vaccine is now available. Treatment consists of the administration of large doses of the broad-spectrum antibiotic, CIPROFLOXACIN. If bioterrorism is thought to be the likely source of anthrax infection, appropriate decontamination procedures must be organised promptly.

Symptoms

EXTERNAL FORM This is the ‘malignant pustule’. After inoculation of some small wound, a few hours or days elapse, and then a red, in?amed swelling appears, which grows larger till it covers half the face or the breadth of the arm, as the case may be. Upon its summit appears a bleb of pus, which bursts and leaves a black scab, perhaps 12 mm (half an inch) wide. The patient is feverish and seriously ill. The in?ammation may last ten days or so, when it slowly subsides and the patient recovers, if surviving the fever and prostration.

INTERNAL FORM This takes the form of pneumonia with haemorrhages, when the spores have been drawn into the lungs, or of ulcers of the stomach and intestines, with gangrene of the SPLEEN, when they have been swallowed.

It is usually fatal in two or three days. Victims may also develop GASTROENTERITIS or MENINGITIS.... anthrax

Any one of various preparations that contain ANTIBODIES which combine and neutralise the effects of a particular toxin (see TOXINS) released into the bloodstream by BACTERIA. Examples are the toxins produced by DIPHTHERIA and TETANUS. Antitoxins are produced from the blood of humans or animals that have been exposed to a particular toxin – whether by INFECTION or by INOCULATION – and thus have produced antibodies against it. They are usually given by intramuscular injection.... antitoxin

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract. Rarely seen in the UK since the introduction of inoculation in 1940, it is still an important cause of disease in many parts of the world. The infection is caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae and is spread by water droplets. It usually presents with a sore throat, and there is a slightly raised membrane on the tonsils surrounded by an in?ammatory zone. There may be some swelling of the neck and lymph nodes, though the patient’s temperature is seldom much raised. Occasionally the disease occurs in the eye or genital tract, or it may complicate lesions of the skin. More serious consequences follow the absorption of TOXINS which damage the heart muscle and the nervous system.

Treatment Provided that the patient is not allergic to horse serum, an injection of the antitoxin is given immediately. A one-week course of penicillin is started (or erythromycin if the patient is allergic to penicillin). Diphtheria may cause temporary muscle weakness or paralysis, which should resolve without special treatment; if the respiratory muscles are involved, however, arti?cial respiration may be necessary.

All infants should be immunised against diphtheria; for details see table under IMMUNISATION.... diphtheria

Entomological Inoculation Rate.... eir

A disease of rodents such as rabbits and rats, caused by the bacillus, Francisella tularense, and spread either by ?ies or by direct inoculation – for example, into the hands of a person engaged in skinning rabbits. In humans the disease takes the form of a slow fever lasting several weeks, with much malaise and depression, followed by considerable emaciation. It was ?rst described in the district of Tulare in California, and is found widely spread in North America and in Europe, but not in Great Britain. STREPTOMYCIN, the TETRACYCLINES and CHLORAMPHENICOL o?er e?ective treatment.... tularaemia

Named from vacca, Latin for cow, vaccination means inoculation with the material of cowpox, performed to a?ord protection to the inoculated person against an attack of SMALLPOX, or to reduce seriousness of, and averting a fatal result from, any such attack. The term is often used, inaccurately, to refer to IMMUNISATION.... vaccination

n. the accidental transfer of inoculated material from one site in the body to another. Following vaccination against smallpox, for example, satellite lesions may occur around the site of inoculation. Sometimes the conjunctiva is affected.... autoinoculation

n. any material that is used for inoculation.... inoculum

tuberculous infection of the skin, usually due to direct inoculation of the tuberculosis bacillus into the skin. It is no longer common in the developed world. This type of lupus often starts in childhood, with dark red patches on the nose or cheek. Unless treated, lupus vulgaris may spread, ulcerate, and cause extensive scarring. Treatment is with antituberculous drugs.... lupus vulgaris

The sum total of body mechanisms which interpose barriers to the progress of invasion or multiplication of infectious agents, or to damage by their toxic products. 1. Immunity - That resistance usually associated with possession of antibodies having a specific action on the microorganism concerned with a particular infectious disease or on its toxin. Passive immunity is attained either naturally, by maternal transfer, or artificially, by inoculation of specific protective antibodies (convalescent or immune serum or immune serum (gamma) globulin (human) and is of brief duration (days to months). Active immunity lasting months to years is attained either naturally, by infection, with or without clinical manifestations, or artificially, byinoculation of fractions or products of the infectious agent or of the agent itself, in killed, modified or variant form. 2. Inherent resistance - An ability to resist disease independently of antibodies or of specifically developed tissue response; it commonly rests in anatomic or physiologic characteristics of the host; it may be genetic or acquired, permanent or temporary.... resistance (host)

chick embryos injected with the living, attenuated strain (17D) of pantropic virus. Only one injection is required, and immunity persists for many years. Re-inoculation, however, is desirable every ten years. (See YELLOW FEVER.)

Haemophilus vaccine (HiB) This vaccine was introduced in the UK in 1994 to deal with the annual incidence of about 1,500 cases and 100 deaths from haemophilus MENINGITIS, SEPTICAEMIA and EPIGLOTTITIS, mostly in pre-school children. It has been remarkably successful when given as part of the primary vaccination programme at two, three and four months of age – reducing the incidence by over 95 per cent. A few cases still occur, either due to other subgroups of the organism for which the vaccine is not designed, or because of inadequate response by the child, possibly related to interference from the newer forms of pertussis vaccine (see above) given at the same time.

Meningococcal C vaccine Used in the UK from 1998, this has dramatically reduced the incidence of meningitis and septicaemia due to this organism. Used as part of the primary programme in early infancy, it does not protect against other types of meningococci.

Varicella vaccine This vaccine, used to protect against varicella (CHICKENPOX) is used in a number of countries including the United States and Japan. It has not been introduced into the UK, largely because of concerns that use in infancy would result in an upsurge in cases in adult life, when the disease may be more severe.

Pneumococcal vaccine The pneumococcus is responsible for severe and sometimes fatal childhood diseases including meningitis and septicaemia, as well as PNEUMONIA and other respiratory infections. Vaccines are available but do not protect against all strains and are reserved for special situations – such as for patients without a SPLEEN or those who are immunode?cient.... yellow fever vaccine is prepared from

Lemon balm. Melissa officinalis L. German: Zitronen-melisse. French: Citronelle. Spanish: Erba cedrata. Italian: Cedronella. Indian: Badaranj. Part used: herb.

Action: antispasmodic, antidepressant, antihistamine, antiviral – topical application, anti-stress, antiflatulent, febrifuge, mild tranquilliser, nerve relaxant, heart-sedating effect.

Antibacterial, especially against myco-bacterium phlei and streptococcus haemolytica (H. Wagner & L. Springkmeyer. Dtsch, Apoth., Zrg, 113, 1159(1973))

Uses: Hyperthyroidism, dizziness, migraine, nervous heart or stomach, insomnia, little energy, stomach cramps, urinary infection, feverishness in children, mumps, shingles, reaction to vaccination or inoculation. Nervous excitability.

Psychiatry. To strengthen the brain in its resistance to shock and stress; low spirits, restlessness, fidgety limbs, “cold and miserable”, anxiety neurosis.

Rudolf F. Weiss MD. Balm protects the cerebrum of the brain and is effective in treatment of autonomic disorders – an action similar to modern tranquillisers . . . usually combined with Peppermint. (Herbal Medicine, Beaconsfield Publishers)

Preparations: Tea: 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 5 minutes; 1 cup freely. Liquid Extract: BHP (1983). 1:1 in 45 per cent alcohol; dose – 2-4ml.

Tincture BHP (1983) 1:5 in 45 per cent alcohol; dose 2-6ml. Thrice daily.

Powders. Two 210mg capsules thrice daily. (Arkocaps)

Traditional combination: Balm and Peppermint (equal parts) tea. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; cup at bedtime for restful sleep or to improve digestion. (Rudolf F. Weiss MD) Historical. John Evelyn writes: “Balm is sovereign for the brain. It strengthens the memory and powerfully chases away melancholy.”

Balm Bath. 8oz dried (or 12oz fresh) herb to 10 pints (7 litres) boiling water: infuse 15 minutes: add to bathwater. For sleeplessness or nervous heart. Aromatherapy: 10-20 drops Oil Melissa (Balm) added to bath water.

Note: Combined with a pinch of Nutmeg it has a reputation for nervous headache (migraine) and neuralgia. Popular in all European pharmacopoeias. ... balm

adj. resembling a local infection with vaccinia (cowpox) virus. A vaccinoid reaction is one of the possible results of vaccination against smallpox in individuals who already have partial immunity. The swelling, reddening, and blistering are considerably less than the so-called primary reaction that occurs after the inoculation of a person with no immunity against smallpox.... vaccinoid

n. the production of *immunity by artificial means. Passive immunity, which is temporary, may be conferred by the injection of an *antiserum, but the production of active immunity calls for the use of treated antigens, to stimulate the body to produce its own antibodies: this is the procedure of *vaccination (also called inoculation). The material used for immunization (the *vaccine) may consist of live bacteria or viruses so treated that they are harmless while remaining antigenic or completely dead organisms or their products (e.g. toxins) chemically or physically altered to produce the same effect.

Childhood immunization schedule... immunization

n. a means of producing immunity to a disease by using a *vaccine, or a special preparation of antigenic material, to stimulate the formation of appropriate antibodies. The name was applied originally only to treatment with vaccinia (cowpox) virus, which gives protection not only against cowpox itself but also against the related smallpox. However, it is now used synonymously with inoculation as a method of *immunization against any disease. Vaccination is often carried out in two or three stages, as separate doses are less likely to cause unpleasant side-effects. A vaccine is usually given by injection but may be introduced into the skin through light scratches; for some diseases (such as polio), oral vaccines are available....  vaccination