Evening star., 1899-04-07
EFFECT OF IMPURE VIRUS
Suggestion That Cerebro-spinal Meningitis
May Result From Vaccination.
Communication to the District Com.
missiOners ELECTS Response
From the Health Officer.

Joseph Ambrose Thompson, who failed to
| give his address, last month wrote to the
District Commissioners stating that it had
come to his knowledge that influence, ema-
mating from their office, has been brought
to bear upon the local press to prevent any
controversy upon the subject of cerebrO-
spinal meningitis.
Health officers in several cities,'' wrote
Mr. Thompson, ARE protesting lamentable
ignorance upon this subject. One blames
Schuykill water, another the blizzard, all
skillfully avoiding the true cause. You will
find in any medical work upon the subject
that pyaemia, due to the introduction into
the system of pus, or the constituents of
pus,' and septicaemia, absorption into the
blood of putrid material from the surface of
a wound or ulcer are the most prominent
causes of this malady, and they may be ag-
gravated by extreme heat or cold, or alco-
holic Indulgence.
Il also wish to draw your attention to the
fact which you can readily confirm by COM
municating with the proper authorities at
the Agricultural Department, that an
thraX,' the disease that killed SO many cows
in this section and Virginia two years ago.
and 'cerebro-spinal meningitis are identical
in every detail
The writer then refers to the probable use
of impure vaccine virus, and suggests II
He saws the details should be laid before
the grand jury and indictments returned
against 1.-The users of the poison that has
killed and MANNED so many people,.
Health Officers Comment.
Mr.. Thompson's communication was re-
ferred by the Commissioners to DR.. VIM.
C. Woodward, the District health officer,
who reported to them as follows, copy of
which report will probably be forwarded to
Mr.. Thompson:
referring TO the letter signed Jos. Am
brose Thompson, dated March IA, 1899 al
leging that influence emanating from the
Commissioners office has been brought to
bear upon the local press to prevent any
controversy on the subject of cerebro-
spinal meningitis and attributing that dis
ca Sc to vaccination, / have the honor to
submit the following report:
The health department has had no
knowledge of any controversy pending in
the local press upon the subject of cerebro-
spinal meningitis. 1t would have had no
occasion, therefore, even If 1t had any de-
sire or power, TO bring influence to bear
upon the local press to prevent any such
controversy.
THE discussion into which the writer of
this letter goes, relative to the relat be-
tween cerebrc-spinal meningitis, pyaemia
septicaemia, anthrax and vaccinat ton, is
too erratic TO be followed, and, therefore,
not susceptible of intelligent consideration.
There is not. so far as am informed any
thing in medical literature to demonstrate
the existence of any relation between vac
cfnatiOn and epidemic cerebro-spinal menn-
gifts. Upon receipt of the communication
above referred to. however, letters were
addressed to each of the physicians who
had attended the twenty-five fatal cases of
cerebrO-spinal meningitis which had oc-
Cured prior to that time. so that Judgment
In the case need not rest on the opinion of
any one man, but might be reached by any
one One Of the replies received simply
stated that the case had not been due to
vaccination. Disregarding this case-be-
cause this expression is merely an opinion
the history of the other twenty-one cases is
as follows:
Periods Since Vaccination.
Two are reported not to have been vac
cinated recently, one had not been vacci-
mated this year two not for year or more,
another not for several years, another not
for three years, another not for four years
three had not been vaccinated since 1894,
enc had not been raecinated since 1882, an
other not for twenty-one years. Three-one
seventeen years old, another thirty-one
years old and the third fifty-five years old
had not been Vaccinated since childhood,
four had never been yaCCinated and another
showed no evidence of vaccination when
admitted to the hospital suffering from the
disease.
In view of the fact that approximately
21,OJO vaccinations have been effected by
this department, either directly or indi-
rectiy, since February 10. 1899, in addition
to those performed by physicians in pri-
vate practice. the contention of the writer
of this letter is certainly not supported by
the foregoing facts neither is it supported
by the previous experience of this depart
ment, for five years ago, when, through
the agency of the health department. ap-
proximately 1000 vaccinations were done
in addition to those performed by physi-
clans in private practice, not single case
of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis was
reported"