New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-07
TO STAMP OUT TYPHOID
Board of Health to Perform
Vaccination Without Charge.
WILL NOT BE COMPULSORY
This City Will Be Among First
to Take Such a Step
Against the Disease.

Preparations are now being made by the
Department Of Health TO perform typhoid
vaccination as a preventive measure The
treatment will be given on request, how
ever and will not be compulsory It's use
in local epidemcs will probably follow.
Not only will this important preventive
step be taken TO fight typhoid in this city.
but enforced removal to hospitals is prob
able when home conditions are such that
proper preventive measures cannot be
taken.
New York will, therefore. become one
Of the first cities TO perform typhoid vac
cinations. There has been considerable
use Of the anti-typhoid serum in the pri-
vate practice of physicians here, but the
free administration OF II by the Depart
ment OF Health will be a new departure
In the warfare on typhoid
While anti-typhoid vaccine has been
widely used in this country as we'll as
abroad among troops It's use In civil life
has been somewhat limited. England was
the first 10 use the nnti-typhoid vaccine
during the Boer war, many Of the British
soldiers being thus treated. The result
among such showed a small percentage or
typhoid, while among those not so treated
there was a vast extent OF the disease.
There were 1000 cases among British
soldiers during the Boer war.
On August rs, 1911, vaccination against
typhoid fever was made compulsory for
every officer and enlisted man in the
United States army under forty-five years
old.
This action was taken by the Secretary
OF War Mr.. Stimson, on the recommen-
dalton Of Surgeon General George H Tor
ney. For more than year previous the
use Of the anti-typhoid serum was vol
untary.
During the army manpuvres In Texas
in March. 1911, the vaccine was admin
Istered to 10000 men. The value Of this
preventive treatment was highly praised
By army medical authorities. 1t was
pointed out that II such immunity against
typhoid could be produced in military
camp It's use IN we'll ordered cities should
reduce TO O minimum therein the cases OF
that disease.
They hoped II would bring into common
use a procedure OF as great sanitary I'M
portance, they declared. as was tho discov-
cry OF the methods OF preventing yellow
fever.
While New York has lower death rate
from typhoid fever than have Boston, Chi
cago, Washington and Philadelphia, the
statistics compiled by the local Depart
ment Of Health indicate a much higher
death rate from the disease than is shown
in London, Paris, Vienna, Hamburg or
Berlin
Health Commissioner Lederle has aimed
10 reduced typhoid TO a minimum by In
sisting on a better supply Of milk. To
better perfect the system Of handling such
cases he requested typhoid experts to
study the situation In this city and formed
a board which is now considering the
problem.
In the last twelve year. there have
been reported In the greater city t2.les
cases and 1885 terminated fatally. The
death rate per 10000 population was
III. as against only SO In Berlin, 80 In
Hamburg and 4 in London. Recently DR..
Charles f. Bolduan. assistant general
medical officer Of the department, pointed
out that the number OF unreported cases
in this city was considerable