The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-11-21
FOR DEATH OF BABES
St. Louis Health Department Is
Held Responsible by Coroner.
ANTET0XiNE SERUM WAS BAD
Contained Tetanus Germs and Seven
Children Treated With it For
Diphtheria Died In Agones
of loekiaw.

A st. Louis special says: Coroner
Funkheuser has rendered a verdict
finding the st. Louis health depart
ment negligent in the preparation of
diphtheria anti-toxine, the administra-
ton of which recently caused the death
by lockjaw (tetanus) Of seven chill
dren. The verdict, in part, is as fol-
lows:
--r---'VWe find that the deceased came to
their deaths from tetanus following the
administration of diphtheria anti-toX-
inc containing tetanus toxin. said dlph-
liberia anti-toxine having been prepar-
ed and issued by the health depart
rsent of the city Of st. Louis, and bear
iLg dates on labels of August "a aro
September 80, 1901.
The presence of tetanus toxine il
the diphtheria anti-toxines shows neg
ligence on the part of the health de-
partment in the preparation of said
dipththeria anti-toxine and in the issu-
ance thereof"
For some time the city health de-
partment has been making anti-toxine
for use in diphtheria cases. This was
distributed among practicing physi-
physicians throughout the city free OF
charge and used in the city institu-
tons quite generally. In many cases It
is said to have saved lives. The Sc
rum was obtained from horses that are
said to have contracted tetanus.
Psychologists Report.
The findings of the committee OF
bacteriologists as presented to the cor
oner were in part as follows:
"The testimony shows that the
health department owned horse nam
ed Jim, stabbed at the poor house farm
and used in the preparation of diph-
liberia anti-toxine. Said horse Jim de-
veloped tetanus on October 2, 1901,
and was at once killed. Blood was
drawn from said horse Jim on August
"a, 1901, the serum of which was non
toxic.
blood was again drawn from said
horse Jim September 80 During the
period Of the incubation Of tetanus),
the serum of which contained tetanus
toxine.
'aThe serum drawn September 80,
1901, was issued by the health depart
ment in bottles bearing labels, respec-
lively dated August "a, 1901, and Sep
tember 80.
THAT the toxic serum drawn Sep
tember 80, 1901, was issued, is shown
by the fact that the toxic serum dated
September 80, 1901, are identical in the
following particulars:
First, unappearance; second, abso-
lutte weight; third, specific gravity;
fourth, freezing point; fifth, chemical
reaction; sixth, spectrum analysis;
seventh, anti-toxic potency, and eighth,
toxic value in producing tetanus IN
lower animals.
'The non-toxic serum drawn August
"a, 1901, and so labeled, in nowise
agrees with the toxic serum in any OF
the above characteristics.
CAS- a result of our Investigations, we
draw the following conclusions:
"The diphttheria and anti-toxine pre-
pared by the health department of the
city OF st. Louis and dated Septem-
Der 80 and some of the serum dated
August "a was the cause of the re-
cent deaths from tetanus in the cases
where this anti-toxine was used.
"This anti-toxine was sterile, but
contained the toxine of tetanus bacil-
lus in considerable amount"