The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-19
PLACE BLAME ON
BOARD OF HEALTH
Coroner's Verdict in st. Louis
Ahti-t0xine Cases.
CAUSE Of CHILDREHS DEATH
LOCKJAW RESULTED FROM IN
LECTION OF FLUID.

St. Louis, No, Nov. 1S.-Coroner
Funkhouser today rendered 2 verdict
finding the St. Louis health department
negligent in the preparation Of diph-
liberia antl-toxine that caused the
deaths by Iockjaw (tetanUs) Of seven
children to whom it was recently ad-
minister-6 for diphtheria. The verdict
In part, is as follows.
I'VE find that the deceased came to
their death from tetalus following the
administration of diphtheria anti-tOX-
Inc containing tetanus tOXine, said
diphCheTia anti-toxine having been pre-
pared and issued by the health depart
ment Of the city Of st. Louis, and bear
ing dates on labels Of Aug. "A and Sept.
90, 1901.
THE presence Of tetanus toxine in
the diphtheria 8nti-toxine shows negIi-
gence upon the part of the health de-
Partment in the preparation Of the said
diphtheria anti-toxine and in the issu-
ance thereof
(Signed.)
ROBERT NJ. FUNKHOUSER,
FRANK BOOGHER, NJ D,
JOHN q. FITZSI9IMONS,
Deputy"
For some time the city heath depart
ment has been making an anti-tOxine
for use I'm diphtheria cases. This was
distributed among practicing phys1-
clans 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
was obtained from horses that are said
to have contracted tetanus ana to have
impaired il to the anti toXine drawn
from their bodies. After rendering his
verdict. Coroner Funkhouser said:
May Be Further Action.
For the present I have done all that
can do. I am not prepared to say
am through with the case. bat so far
as ! know now, there is nothing more
for me to do. I have rendered the YER
dict and that is all I have been called
on 10 do thus far"
The cOrOner's verdict is based upon
the testimony of physicians who at
tended the lOckjaw cases, witnesses al
the inquest and the representative oil
the bacteTiolOgists employed by the
city 10 make tests of the infected Sc
rum and report the responsibility fol
it, The experts are DR.. Carl Fitch, DR.
=. Mead Bolton and Dr. +. G. Walden
who examined several patients who haC
been injected by city anti-to1ine before
they began their experiments. In theil
experiments seventy-fOur guinea pigs
were used. The report of the experts
contains 1000 words. 1t vas fled Will
Coroner FUnkh0user Friday and wa;
given out with the verdict today. WheI
informed of the nature OF the coroner
verdict DR.. Armand r, Void, city bac
teriOlOgist said:
i repeat my previous assertion tina
none Of the serum marked Sept. so wal
distT.h ted TO any one or under am
label 1 poured the entire drawing int
the sink on Oct II. as both Mr.. Tay
Tor and I, who was with me in thu
office at the time, testified"
Health Commissioner StarklOff is on
Of the city in a hunting trip. In hi
absence Charles " Francis, assistan
health commissioner, is in charge O
the department He said;
i shall read the report Of the ex
pcrts and the COTOners verdict an,
then take such action as I deem to b
my duty AS the manufacture Of anti
tOXine by the city has been stopped
the case is not now one Of emergency
and 1 may not decide for several DAY
what action 7 shall tai e"