The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-19
Resulting from the Use of Diphtheria
AntitOxin Drawn from the Te-
tanus-Infected Horse Jim.
REPORT OF BACTERIOLOGISTS
MAKES PLAIN THE EVIDENCE OF
OFFICIAL NEGLIGENCE.
Medicine Was Issued Under Two
Dates and the Analyses Are Iden-
ticaI-Cases in Camden.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 1s.-Coroner Funkhaus-
er to-day rendered a verdict. finding the
st. Louis health department negligent in
the preparation of diphtheria antitoxin that
caused the deaths by lockjaw tetanus) of
seven children to whom it was recently ad-
ministered for diphtheria. The verdict. in
part, is as follows:
1--WE find that the deceased came to their
death from tetaEus, following the admin
istratiOn of diphtheria antitoxin contain
ing tetanus toxin, said diphtheria antitoxin
having been prepared and issued by the
health department of the city of st. Louis
and bearing dates on labels of Aug. "a and
Sept: 30 1901.
THE presence of tetanus toxin in the
diphtheria antitoxin shows negligence upon
the part of the health department in the
preparation of said diphtheria antitoxin
and in the issuance thereof
For some time the City Health Depart
ment has been making antitoxin for use in
diphtheria cases. This was distributed
among practicing physicians throughout
the city free of charge and used in the city
institutions quite generally. In many cases
it is said to have saved lives. The serum in
the present case was obtained from horses
that are said to have contracted tetanus.
After rendering the verdict Coroner
Funkenhouser said: For the present i
have done all that can do am not pre-
pared to say 1 am through with the case.
but so far as L know now there is nothing
more for me to do. 1 have rendered the
verdict and that is all 1 have been called
upon TO do thus far
The coroner's verdict is based on the
testimony of physicians who attended the
lockjaw cases, the inquest and the report
of the bacteriologist employed by the city
to make the tests of the infected serum
and ascertain the responsibility for it,
When informed Of the nature of the cor
oner's verdict, DR.. Amand Ravold, city
bacteriologist, said:
81 repeat my previous assertion that none
of the serum marked Sept. 80 was distrib-
uted 10 any one under any label
poured the entire drawing into the sink
on Oct. IL, as Mr.. Taylor, who was with
me at the time, testified
Health Commissioner Starkeloff is out
of the city on hunting trip. In his alb
sence Charles w. Francis, assistant health
commissioner, is in charge of the depart
ment. He said: II shall read the report
of the experts and the coroner's verdict
and then take such action / deem Ia
be my duty
COMMITTEES REPORT.
The findings of the committee of bac-
teriologists were presented in brief form tc
the coroner, as follows:
"The testimony shows that the health
| bled at the poorhouse farm and used ir
| the preparation OF diphtheria antitoxin
| Said horse Jim developed tetanus on Oct
| 2, 1901, and was at once killed. Blood was
| drawn from said horse Jim on Aug "a 1871
| the serum of which nontoxic
Blood was again drawn from said hors,
| Jim on Sept 30 during the period of the
| incubation OF tetanus), the serum of which
| contained tetanus toxin.
1.-The serum drawn on Sept. 30 1901 wa,
| issued by the health department In bottle,
bearing labels respectively dated Aug "A
| 1901. and Sept. 80.
THAT the toxic serum drawn Sept %
| 1901 was issued is shown by the fact that
| the toxic serum dated Aug 24 1901. ane
| Sept. 30. 1901. are identical in the followine
| particulars First, in appearance; second
| absolute weight; third. specific gravity
| fourth, freezing point fifth. chemical re
| action; sixth. spectrum analysis; seventh
antitoxic potency, and eighth, toxic valu,
| in producing tetanus in lower animals
THE nontoXic serum drawn Aug "a 1901
| and so labeled in nowise agrees with Tn,
| toxic serum In any OF the above charac
| teristics.
LAS a result of our investigations W,
| draw the following conclusions: The diph
iberia antitoxin prepared by the health de
partment Of the city OF St Louis and da tee
Sept 80 and some of the serum dated Aug
/ "a was the cause of the recent deaths from
| tetanus in the cases where this antitoxiT
! was used
This antitoxin was sterile. but containet