Evening journal., 1913-12-11

VACCINATION
FOR TYPHOID
But One Case Of the Fever De-
VeIOped by Soldier in
Eleven Months
UNCLE SANS FIGHTING
FORCE IS IMMUNIzED
BY Tie United Press.


WASHINGTON, Dec. Compulsory
vaccination for the prevention Of typhoid
fever in the United States Army has
given the country practically an "in
munized fighting force, but ono case OF
the disease making IFS appearance during
the first eleven months OF 1913, according
to reports lust obtained from the Office
OF Surgeon General Torney Of the War
Department. The ono soldier became
III during November, but five days after
he had enlisted and before he had been
immunized. In no other army is anti
typhoid vaccination mandatory. So eff
cacious las been the treatment in the
army that the navy has adopted the
precedent and II is today immunized
with vaccine prepared in the laboratory
of the Army Medical School.
In commenting on the record for the
first eleven months of 1918, Alton q
Grinnell OF the Office of the Surgeon
General OF the War Department, in a
communication to the National 6eogra
phic Society. SAYS: "This record, com
pared with that Of any year previous TO
the beginning of vaccination. seems little
short Of miraculous He enclosed Che
/ following table of statistics, showing the
incidence OF typhoid in the United
States Army from 1908 to 1918, which
tells the story in a nutshell:
Five years prior 10 1905. laverage per
| yearl 100; two years after vaccination
had begun (lQll). A; three years after
vaccination had begun (l9l2), is. Since
1908 prodigious amount OF work has
been accomplished
Mr. Grinnell goes on to say: 'rhe vari-
ous steps in the production Of each dose
of vaccine have been as carefully super
vised as though it was to be used upon
the President of the United States. Be
fore il leaves the laboratory. IL is tested
upon guinea pigs, and the statistics
above quoted show the results of this
painstaking care Large quantities have
been furnished to the various depart
ments Of the government. to the militia
and to number of civil institutions. As
soon as its success was assured tn,
larger drug firms Of the country sent
represents tives to Washington TO learn
the formula and to study the process OF
manufacture Tho same vaccine is now
prepared by these firms and sold 10 tho
medical profession of the country at B
} reasonable rate"
Mr.. Grinneil paints an encouraginI
picture when he says: "As the ~
phoid bacillus can live but limite
time ia water. soil aud other sub
!, stances. Il Is obvious that II new pol
a luton Is not added from time TO tim
! epidemics will be prevented. Th
general use of the prophyiactlc vii
q probably. extinguish the diseas
" since the vaccination OF an entire cor
Ir munity absolutely prevents the Ca
- riers and all others from giving o
70 the typhoid bacilli and the focl
l. from which new infection would o.
dinarily radiate is eliminated.
4 'sThe United States Reclamajo
!. Service decided to use the typhoi
. prophyIatic early in the year anon
:. its field force, which is scattered owe
g a large area in the West. II was nc
e made compulsory. but circulars wer
: sent to the various camps descrihin
= the treatment and the results obtain
o cd in the Army. One OF the circu
. lars contained the following lngeniou
pronouncement: Typhoid fever ca
be prevented. You can aid by bein
vaccinatcd. Prevention beats the ply
stefan and undertaken. Healthy Jer
, sons may have typhoid tomorrow On
I. ly those vaccinated OF tnOse VINO nay
!, had typhoid are immune. Immunit
I. lasts three years. Don't hesitate
" Volunteer today"
"Over 500 persons volunteered 10
= the treatment. Shortly after this a
n epidemic ,of typhoid fever broke on
!, in the town of Malta, Montana, mos
y of the cases developing in hote
where four Of the Reclamation Ser
vice men we're taking their meals. Q
"a these four. one had refused TO be vac
y cinated. one had had typhoid fever
d and two we're immunized by vaccins
. ton The unvaccinated man con
q tracted q severe case OF the disease
- was that the townspeople made ar
rangements to secure a supply Of tn
. vaccine"