>Date: Mon, 15 Apr 1996 01:06:21 -0400 >From: William Alan Killian <[log in to unmask]> >I personally submitted some 2300 vaccinations to Pam Grant. Some 300 >inoculations of my own and some 2000 from a Doug McKay. These are the only results I have received from people living in Woodbridge, VA: FERVAC-D reactions = YES h. several reactions 1994 LOT 92 & 93 60 shots FROMM-D reactions = NO a. no reactions WOODBRIDGE VA majority no reactions / possibly several stinging cases / 6 ferrets screamed / 2 seemed sleepy - FERVAC FERVAC-D reactions = YES h. several reactions lots of FERVAC / 20 Fromm shots FROMM-D reactions = NO a. no reactions Woodbridge VA stinging and screaming with FERVAC. also problems with dissolving. Major reaction of vomiting and blood out both ends on 8/13/93. GALAXY-D reactions = NO a. no reactions 810001A 900/yr FROMM-D reactions = NO a. no reactions Woodbridge VA 1 Galaxy D reaction, 2 reactions in 17 years with Fromm D vet filled out form Mr. Killian could be one of them, but numbers like "lots" are VERY hard to put into a survey and are usually discarded. I could NOT find a survey with Killian's name attached to it, so I never received a survey unless it was one of the above (I did not always keep paper copies of surveys returned by e-mail). I have absolutely NOTHING regarding Mr. McKay. This is what was stated as clarification in the VOICE: >Though both STAR* and the VOICE participated in developing and >disseminating the questionnaire, the following summary is based solely on >the VOICE's collation and analysis of data received. While all responses >are appreciated, a few could not be tabulated because insufficient >information was provided. >But a trained mathematician and scientist such as myself notes that this >survey was not a controlled sampling. No effort was made to reach members >of the AFA, NAFA, or FURO. This is NOT true - the survey was sent to STAR* subscribers, who include on their mailing list NAFA, FURO and AFA leaders and board members. If these organizations choose NOT to run the survey in their publications, then I have no control of that. PLUS - to reach well over 1600 people (at the time I believe that was the circulation) - I put the survey on the FML. That way - EVERYONE was given an option to participate, reactions or not. >No effort was made to differentiate between circumstances of inoculation. Once again, not entirely true - I constructed the survey to ask about condition of the injection, the site, whether it was given with rabies or not, and left area of comment for other notes. Many people wrote how well constructed the survey was, noted it's impartialness to information gathering, and the USDA and United were both happy to receive results and the user's comments. >No effort was made to separate older ferrets from younger ferrets. This is true, but should not matter IMHO. At this time, I would like to make one thing perfectly clear - - - I do have FERVAC-D in my fridge and use it at the owner's requests. I have had no problems with the recent batches. But I PREFER to use Galaxy-D and will do so on my kits, personal ferrets and adoptees. My literature states that FERVAC-D is the only USDA approved canine distemper vaccine for ferrets. I also recommend Galaxy-D. I am a trained artist and cartographer (map maker for lay people) and therefore submitted the results of the data I collected to others who asked for it. I am also a caring individual who has learned a LOT from personal experiences with over 1250 ferrets in 11 years. As an artist and cartographer, I am trained to view and observe things from several perspectives and interpret those items realistically and accurately to paper. In 11 years with ferrets, I have learned more than many veterinarians ever will about ferrets. I have shared those views with many, freely, with nothing more than knowing that I might have helped someone out who had no where else to turn. I have given away priceless information with the STAR* database - other organizations hoard their member's resources as if anyone knew about other ferret groups that they might not rejoin theirs again or something similarly selfish. If Mr Killian wants to continue to agree to disagree, fine - but do it privately. My training does not make me a Picaso or a Washington (yes, George was a cartographer too), and Mr. Killian is no Einstein. Pam [Posted in FML issue 1542]