The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-18
ANTITOXINE AND LOCKJAW.


New York Times.
The medical profession is disturbed over
the recent fatalities in St. Louis resulting
from the Injection of antitoxine for the
cure of diphtheria. Twenty cases of teta-
nus. or lockjaw, developed among patients
who had been treated with diphtheria anti
toxine, manufactured by the health depart
ment of the city of St. Louis. which has
been engaged in its production since 1895.
While the average percentage of deaths
from diphtheria and Group prior to the use
of antitoxine was 80. As, during the six years
following it's use the percentage of deaths
has been lowered to 1867 per cent.
The fatalities in st. Louis are attributed
to contaminated a~ntitoxine. the horse from
which the antitoxine serum was drawn
having been found to be infected with the
germs of lockjaw. The cases are now I'M
der investigation by the coroner and a
committee of expert psychologists.
An expert medical opinion concerning
the cause of the outbreak of ockjaw in
the patients treated with the antitoxine
is found in the current isue of the New
York Medical Journal, which expresses
itself editOrially as follows:
1.-THE contamination probably occurred in
the process of bottling, as in similar oc-
currences that happened in Italy about a
year ago, and in the possibility of such a
contamination lies one of the objections to
the municipal manufacture of drugs; a far
SAoNt DOJONSACNf 80
we deplore the loss of precious lives that
has occurred in this instance, attaches to
the use of public money in competition with
IAN individual producer with a reputa-
ton TO maintain knows that he cannot af-
ford to relax his precautions TO the minut-
est degree. and the same is true of a COM
mercial house. but a municipal board Is so
intangible tina it can hardly be held to
strict account for imperfections in its prod
ucts.
''While we were panied to think Of the
deaths that have occurred by misadventure
in St. Louis. they furnish an additional ar
gument against appropriations 10 cover the
expense of producing vaccine, antltoXlne,
or any other remedial or prophylaetic agent
to be sold in competition with the PRODUCTS
of private enterprise. We are not blam-
ing anybody connected with the st. Louis
Health Department, the department has
simply met with a check that was almost
sure TO come sooner or later We are all
proud of the medical officers or the health
departments of our great cities, but they
may not be the same tomorrow that they
are to-day-in other words, they have no
permanent personal responsibility.
I'm the manufacture of antitoxine by
commercial houses, the danger of infection
Of the horses is guarded against by Keeping
them constantly immuned against tetanus
by means of the injections of antitetan.c
serum, while the danger, which is sligh5,
Of the presence of any unchanged diphther-
itic toxine is guarded against by check in
jections of guinea pigs made before the
serum is drawn from the horse for bottling.
A further test is made of the serum imme-
diately before its final bottling. 1t will thus
be seen that the danger of contamination
with the tetanus germ or any other bac-
terra is very slight indeed in the process as
usually conducted by commercial houses.
Finally, we would say since this most
unfortunate accident Is likely to create a
certain amount of prejudice in the public
mind against the use of diDhtheria anti
toxine. that il behOoves the medical pro-
fession To earnestly strive against the
growth OF any such prejudice. Diphtheria
antitoxine Is one of the most valuable
specific therapeutic agents at our COM
mand.
"There will always be a certain amount
Of risk that, through carelessness i'm man.
ipulation, or from other causes, the serum
may become contaminated. but this risk is
so small as compared with the positive and
widespread benefits accruing from the use
of diDhtheria antitoXine that IL may. SO
far as the general practice OF administering
antitoxine is concerned. be considered a
negligible quantity"