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Horse serum farm at Elstree, 1915
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Horse serum farm at Elstree, 1915
Horse serum farm at Elstree, 1915. One unusual contribution of the horse to the war effort was as a supply of serum which acted as an antidote to tetanus poisoning, also known as lockjaw. Serum, or blood fluid with the clotting agents removed, is collected from the blood of specially selected horses, who have carefully infected with the disease, and so built up an immunity to it. The article accompanying this picture concludes, " The regiment of healing horses, through others of its recruits, supplies antidotes to diphtheria and dysentery; and it is no exaggeration to say that the blood the horses have shed has saved thousands of lives.
1915
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This evocative image captures the Horse Serum Farm at Elstree in 1915, during the First World War. The horse, an unsung hero of the conflict, played a crucial role in the production of life-saving serums. Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, was a common injury on the battlefield, and horse serum acted as an essential antidote. The process of creating the serum was both complex and compassionate. Horses were carefully selected and infected with tetanus to build up an immunity to the disease. Once immune, their blood was collected, and the serum, or blood fluid with the clotting agents removed, was extracted. This process was repeated regularly to ensure a constant supply of fresh serum. The Horse Serum Farm was part of a larger network of healing horses, which also produced antidotes for diphtheria and dysentery. The blood these horses shed saved countless lives, making their sacrifice a poignant and significant contribution to the war effort. The horses, often referred to as the 'regiment of healing horses,' were a testament to the compassionate and scientific innovations of the time. This image offers a glimpse into the vital role horses played in the medical frontlines of WWI, a role that continues to be remembered and honored.
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