Evening journal., 1901-12-02
VACCINE FRbE FROM
TKTAAUN GERN Mn
New Jersey BaCteriOIOgiSt 80
Reports to Camden
Health Board

Drs Henry III. Davis, Joel w. Fifth
ian ana S. G.. Bushey, of the Board of
Health Of Camden. N. j., have sub
mitted the following official report
concerning the cases of tetanus which
occurred in patients who have been
vaccinated
/. Samples of all the different
makes of vaccine employed in Camden
have been tested for tetanus germs by
the State Bacteriologist Of New Jersey,
and have been found pure and entirely
free from tetanus germs; hence,
tetanus could not have been caused by
the virus employed. (See report OF
Dr. Mitchell. Secretary of New Jersey
State Board of Health.)
2. The history of each case of
tetanus has been carefully collected
from the attending physician, and in
every instance vaccination was prac-
ticed in a correct and cleanly manner;
! the infection of tetanus resulting from
neglect on the part of the patients to
present themselves TO the attending
physicians so that their vaccination
could receive proper attention.
3. One case of tetanus has occur
red from gunshot wound, during the
same period. in a boy who had not
! been vaccinated. proving that the
tetanus germs were in the atmosphere.
4. Indisputable evidence of the fact
that the tetanus germs were not intro
duced at the time of vaccination is
That acute tetanus occurs in from five
to nine days after the introduction OF
the germs, whereas in every case acute
tetanus occurred in from three to foui
weeks after the vaccination. IL the
virus had been contaminated tetanus
would have ensued within nine day
after vaccination. Tetanus developed
in every make of vaccine used.
8. rurther proof of the purity oI
the virus exists in the reports of the
physicians In Cooper Hospital who
tested on animals samples of al
makes of vaccine employed in Cam.
den If the virus had been contami
mated. the animals would have devel
oped tetanus because Of their extreme
susceptibility to this disease. (Se'
lanimal eXperiments.)
6. During the past five weeks there
have been vaccinated in Philadelphia
a very large number of people viii
the same virus employed in Camden
In not one of these cases did tetanul
occur
z. The totanus cases in Camden ar,
to be explained upon atmosphere
and telluric conditions which hav
prevailed in Camden during the pas
six weeks. There has been q lonl
period of dry weather with higl
winds. so that tetanus germs, whicl
have their normal habitation in tn
earth dust. dirt of stables, etc, hav
been constantly distributed in the at
mosphere. II is noticeable in al
the cases. after careful examination a
to the cause. that the wound had beel
= exposed by the scab being knocked oi
or removed, or else the arm had bee
! injured and infection resulted; FIRE
! quenly children scratched the vaccl
mated area with their dirty fingers an
nails and infected the wound.
S. That vaccination should be re
lgarded as q surgical operation an
l should be performed In an aseptio &
/. clean manner. and in every instanC
the physician should be consulted fo
, advice If any unusual inhammatio
! should develop.
+, 9. Il IS the unanimous opinion
the Board of Health as well as of the
I committee of experts, that, inasmuc
, as vaccination is harmless, il shoul
: be insisted upon by physicians as a
absolutely necessary procedure for II
prevention Of smallpox. Tetanus,
any other infection, can never occl
, If the vaccination is properly prOtec
I ed from contact with the atmosphe
r or with soiled clothing. bandages, q
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