The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-16
STATE COLLEGE
SETS PACE IN
HEALTH WORK
HOW A. AND M.coLLEGE is HAND.
LING TYPHOID.
First College in State to Adopt Anti.
typhoid Vaccination Free.

that any case of typhoid fever wa
that any cases of typhoid fever wa
too much typhoid for college
When, two years ago, three cases oe
cSrred during the summer vacation
an examination of the premises wa
made by the college authorities
but no local cause was found Thi.
summer few cases occurred just az
the College closed. Not many col
leges would have paid any attention
to few scattered cases of typhoid
Not so with A. and M They insisted
upon thorough examination by an
expert, and as the State Board OF
Health has no epidemiologist, it se.
cured such an expert from the Gov.
eminent for this investigation. After
three weeks Of diligent search no di.
rect cause for any more typhoid could
be found around the College than ex.
lists generally throughout the State.
But the college authorities were not
content to stop there. Immediately
upon the beginning of the school
term few weeks ago, the President,
DR.. Hill, and Dr. Tucker, the college
physician, began making arrange
ments to get anti-typhoid vaccine,
free of charge, for all the students
who would avail themselves of it,
Since the vaccine was offered, fully
four-fifths of the students have pre-
sented themselves for vaccination.
This is indeed a very commendable
act, both on the part of the college
authorities and the students, and it
is to be hoped that practically every
student will avail himself of this free
anti-typhoid vaccination before the
year is over. It is not to be expected
that single case of typhoid will oc-
cur among any of the vaccinated stu
dents this year.
Value of Anti-Typhoid Vaccine.
The best figures obtainable in re-
gard to the value of anti-typhoid vac
cine are from the U. S. Army. Since
our heavy losses from typhoid in the
Spanish War, our army began giving
anti-typhoid vaccination in 1909. Only
about $50 men out of $1,000 were vac
clnated that year. The next year,
however, over one-fourtn of the army
was vaccinated against typhoid, and
typhoid began to decrease. In March,
1911, anti-typhoid vaccination was
made compulsory in the army and
navy, and the real results of this act
ion are plainly shown in the figures
for last year and part of the present
year. The average case rate per 1OO- !
900 soldiers for years, from 1901 to
1909 inclusive, was $50. After partial
vaccination in 1910 it decreased to 232,
and with compulsory vaccination in
March, 1911, the rate decreased to 80
for that year, and to 26 for last year.
For the first 5 months of this year no
cases have been reported. Likewise
the death rate from typhoid decreased
from an average of 81 per 100000 for
9 years, from 1901 to 1909, to Is per
100000 in 1910, to II in 1911, and to
3 in 1912, with no deaths during the
first 5 months of this year. From
these record there can be no doubt
as to the efficiency of anti-typhoid
Length of Immunity.
About the only question left is the
matter of the length of immunity con-
ferred. Unfortunately, our experience
with anti-typhoid vaccine has not been
long enough to Prove the general
length of the immunity conferred. In
the army, a very conservative practice
has been formed Of vaccinating against
typhoid and smallpox every years.
There are no grounds for setting these
arbitrary standards, but it is thought
TO be much better to be on the safe
SIDE. In all probability, immunity
from typhoid is much like immunity
from smallpox. In some cases it NAV
last for only Or years, and in other
cases 1t may last a lifetime. AS yet,
however, it is not conceded that
typhoid vaccination is quite as effect
We or as lasting as smallpox vaccina-
ion.
Another singular coincidence has
}een that in over 100000 vaccinations
against typhoid in the army, not a
single death has resulted from the
lue very largely to, proper care in ad-
n n.stering the vaccine. :
Within short time it is to be hon.
ID that not only the other colleges
md schools of the State will follow
he example of A. and NJ, but that .
vaccine will become quite +.
general among the public at large,
Persons that travel Or camp or are ex-
'osed to typhoid infection should by :
IL means avail themselves of this :
'recaution.
About the middle of October the
state Laboratory of Hygiene will be :.
it's own anti-typhoid vaccine. :
This vaccine will be supplied at only :,
raction of the price now charged by ;,
manufacturers, and it is to be hoped y
hat by this means our present high '
oath rate from typhoid will show :,
aduction -