Evening journal., 1901-11-23
TETANUS NOTDUE
TO VACCINATION
Camden Health Board Makes
Statement
LOCAL PHYSICIANS INFORMED
Lack Of Care in Regard TO Cleanli.
ness Is Responsible for Deaths
From LOCklaW
LOCAL PHYSICIANS INFORMED

! several wilmington physicians nave
received from II. II. Davis, M D., pres
ident OF the Camden, IN. J.,) Board of
Health, circular regarding the recent
occurrence Of tetanus after vaccina-
tion in that city. The circular states
First-Tetanus germs are proba-
ably more widely distributed than any
other organism they are found in the
earth, in the dust, dirt of stables, pri-
vate houses, public places, in the air
and water.
Second-The prevailing dry spell Of
weather, with the high Winds un-
Idoubtedly has an important bearing
upon the occurrence of outbreaks of
ltetanus by disseminating the germs,
which are brought in contact with the
open wounds of vaccination.
Third-AutlhOrities such as Osler,
Sternberg, Park, and many others,
have stated that the period ofincubation
of tetanus occurs in from five to nine
days. DR.. Parks record of tetanus
cases for THE last five years indicates
that all acute cases of tetanus which
are the severe type following a wound
or injury, occur within FIVE to nine
days; the subacute cases, those of a
milder type Frequently getting we'll
occur as late as twelve days, proving
Iconclusively that cases of tetanus ap-
pearing in from three weeks to one
MONTH, following vaccination. can in
nOwise be attributed to the virus en-
lployed nor to faulty technique of the
physician.
Fourth-The recent cases of tetanus
appearing i'm Camden and several other
points have occurred from nineteen to
ltwenty-eight days after vaccination.
and in no instance was it at an earlier
period; they have been of an extremely
severe type, death following in a few
days. All cases must be classed as
acute tetanus, such as develop within
five to seven days after incubation
Fifth-lt is also noticeable i'm all
cases in Camden, and other places
where tetanus has developed, after
careful examination as to the cause.
that it is due to lack of care in regard
to cleanliness or the wound has been
exposed by the scab being knocked off
or removed, or else the arm has been
bruised and infection resulted. Very
little care is taken by the ordinary per-
son, after vaccination, to protect the
vaccinated area against contamination.
in fact, it has been regarded as an on
Grafton without danger of contamina-
tion, and, in consequence, dirty cloth
Ing is allowed to come in contact with
the sore; frequently children scratch
the vaccinated area with their dirty
fingers and nails; the vaccination it.
self ds sort of curiosity to them.
and In many cases they show the same
to other children, who handle it with
uheir unWashed hands. Under such
conditions, it is a wonder that. with
the large number of children and
adults vaccinated, that there has not
been more frequent occurrence of the
disease.
Sixth-Ilhe most careful bacteria
logical examinations of the QUALITY of
vaccine have been made and not a
single tetanus spore or bacilli has been
found. There is no record of a case
of tetanus being caused by virus en-
lployed; all reports show outside con-
tamination. All Of the cases in Cam
den have occurred from three to four
weeks after vaccination. and tetanus
followed in every make of vaccine en-
ployed, proving conclusively that tho
infection of the virus is not due to the
method of preparation. thus eliminat-
ing the possibility of impure virus or
the faulty technique of the physician.
Seventh-lt is a most important mat
ter to impress the value Of using an
aseptic vaccine shield. The progress
OF the vaccination should be watched
and the shield removed every two or
four days, so as to cleanse the vacci-
mated area. as we'll as the shield.
Eighth--lmpurity of the vaccine
virus supplied to our Board of Health
is impossible from the process of prep
aration and testing. Every animal is
immunized against tetanus by an i'm
mmizing or protecting dose of anti
toxin. The vaccinated surface of tho
lheifer is thoroughly cleansed and all
IOutside contamination removed by
washing with sterile water. The vac.
cine pulp is then collected according n
the most rigid aseptic surgical process
ltriturated and ground in glass rollers
and placed in sterile hermeticalIy seal.
led glass tubes. where il cannot be ex
posed to the air. No vaccine is uset
until veterinary tests and thorough
lpost-mortem examinations prove tn,
lanima,s from which the vaccine is col
lected to be absolutely healthy Viru
COLLECTED from animals shown to hav,
the slightest trace of disease is burned
The virus is subjected to repeate,
; bacteriologic examination by one O
the foremost psychologists and an ex
port in the propagation O
= vaccine virus. and only viru
is used that the most search
ing examinations prove TO be pure
+ Furthermore, as an absolute proof
{ guinea pigs are injected with the viru
to prove the entire absence of contain
2 nation Contamination of the viru
S after testing is impossible, because
. is filled by a vacuum process. entirel
, separate from the outside air. int
, sterilized capillary tubes, the ends q
which are sealed by a Bunsen flame
During the time the vaccinating wa
being done in Camden, the Phi,adei
lphia Board Of Health and the phys
lcians have used over 100000 vaccine
n ltions The President of the Philade
: lphia Board OF Health states there ha
Il mot been a single case of tetanus 70
: Toying vaccination in Philadelphia
lnor has there been any. complain
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