New-York tribune., 1900-08-26
ANTT-TYPHOfD TNoCULATTOy.

One of the latest campaigns against disease
by means OF incubation with serum is that
which Is being waged against typhoid fever
The earlier experiments with this plan were
tried two or three years ago In India on a
comparatively small scale. The subjects Of the
test were almost exclusively soldiers because
the investigation carried on under army
auspices and also because experience shows
that typhoid often finds as many victims as the
bullet in time of war. After hostfIities broke
out in South Africa last year further trials Of
the serum were made there. and 1t Is said that
a quantity of it has even been sent to China for
use by the invading troops
Nothing has been heard concerning the value
or the new preventive in the last mentioned
country. But the reports which have been re-
ceived from other sources are curiously con-
fcting. DR.. Haffkine, who might possibly be
preJudiced in favor of this method Of dealing
with typhoid because he has met with partial
success IN thus treating cholera and the bubonic
plague, declares that the serum produces dis
tinctly beneficial effects in India Nevertheless
English surgeons who have had a chance TO
see some of It's workings there lack confidence
In It's virtues The same story comes from
South Africa. Conan Doyle and a few medical
experts express more or less favorable opinions
while THE Lancet's" special agent at the aeat
of war discredits the innovation 1t IS asserted
that not only do persons who have tesr In
ocuated take the fever, but some If thenl have
it harder than would have been the case other
wise.
OF course, while the testimony is thus
Trajectory Is not justified in chershing
great expectations in regard to the new serum.
Yet it would be unwise to. abandon experiment
prematurely. Something may be learned al
most any day that will lead to improved
methods Of preparing and administering it, if
the work is only continued with patience and
intelligence. Similarly indecisive and disap-
pointing results have been reached. to be sure.
with Kochs tuberculin and the serums of tet
anus rabies, bubonic plague and yellow fever.
But the manifest benefits conferred upon the
human by vaccination for smallpox and by
Behring's diphtheria anttoxin to snow
that the underlying principle of these other en-
deavors is sound Apparently, only the right
application of II is yet to be learned.
In the mean time. however. efforts to devise
other efficient preventive measures against the
disease in question should not be relaxed. 1t
has been recently discovered, for instance. that
the danger of infection from typhoid patient
does not cease with his recovery. as was for
merly imagined Hitherto it has been thought
that some of the precautions which are taken
during actual illness might be abandoned safely
when the victim out OF bed again. But
there is reason to believe that typhoid germs
continue to reside and multiply in the Intestinal
canal for weeks and possibly months after con-
valescence. Hence. person who has suffered
from one attack is liable to have second from
self infection, and he is also a source of danger
TO others. These revelations emphasize the
need of using disinfectants much longer than
was formerly deemed requisite. II is not un-
likely that other discoveries of equal impor-
tance regarding typhoid will yet be made, sooner
or later: but thorough assimilation of this one
fact by medical men and faithful adoption Of
their advice by patients and the attendants OF
patients can hardly fail materially TO reduce
mortality both in civil life and the army.