Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-19
VACCINE AND ASrI-roxIS.

Ine announcement OF seNtlu heoi"S
from lockjaw following vaccination
and also OF fatal results from the use
OF anti-toxin administered TO cure
diphtheria, viii have a very powerful
influence towards hindering the cause
of both methods now in use for the
iighting of disease
Tetanus. or lockjaw. Is terrible and
frequently fatal disorder. There have
been large number Of cases reported
at different times and places In Europe
and In America, which have been traced
to vaccination Coroners' inquests have
so decided. The recent cases of tetanus
IN 81. Louis were undoubtedly the re-
suit Of the injection Of antl-toxln into
the bodies of children suffering from
diphtherla. The facts cannot be fairly
disputed The deductions hastily made
therefrom are open to question.
II is highly probable that the vaccine
virus used In the cases described In the
dispatches was impure This no doubt
viii be alleged by the physicians who
believe in the virtues OF vaccination
The matter ought 10 be,and no doubt
win be, thoroughly investigated. and
whatever facts may be developed ought
to be made known to the public. The
bare possibility OF spreading disease by
means of any kind Of incubation, VIII
naturally have the effect Of prejudiclng
the masses against 1t in every form
OF course the cases mentioned and 9TH
ers reported in medical works are ex-
ceptlons. and should not Of themselves
be taken as evidence against the DraG-
tice, But they do furnish some reason
why II should not be enforced, either
among children or adults. against the
wishes OF those who dsbelieye in It's
virtues
Reputable and reliable physicians Of
this city, as well as many others IN
different parts of the country. affirm
most positively the benefits OF anti
toxin In serious cases of diphtherla. IL
is claimed, and with good show OF
credibilty, that the deaths In st. Louis
from lockjaw resulted from gross care
lessness in the preparation Of the
antidote. The coroners' Jury which in
yestigated the deaths OF seven children
from lockjaw, found that II was caused
by the presence OF tetanus toxin in the
diphtheria anti-toxin administered to
them, and that the fault lay with the
Board OF Health that issued the serum.
The great difficulty in the way OF
those alleged preyentlves and curatives
which involve the insertion OF mat
ter into the human system, taken from
animals that have been subjected to
incubation With virus containing germs
OF disease. is that the actual condition
OF the creatures thus impregnated is
not fully understood. While appar-
emily healthy at the time when the
lymph or anti-toxin Is extracted, they
may have inherited from remote pro-
genitors the germs of disease which are
not developed until transmitted TO or
spring, or to the human beings who re-
celye the virus.
In any event II is probable that both
vaccination for smallpox and the use
OF antI-toxin for diphiheria, viii re-
ceiye a setback through the cases OF
lockiaw recently reported. Both dis
eases are more than ordinarily obnox-
ious and TO be dreaded but diphtheria
numbers a much larger percentage Of
fatalities than the other and more gem
orally repulsiye disorder.
The remedies now in use are not to
be considered as demonstrated to be
either deadly or non-efficaclous. The
question as 10 their utility is still open
to the general public, although 1t may
be considered almost settled in favor
Of their benefits by the majority OF the
medical world. This is an age of ex-
pertinent and progress. and there are
two sides at least to every question
worthy of confederation