The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-08-05
now TO STOP BgRROWING
Special Bulletin Sent Out for Special
instruction of People Who Have
Never Lived in Missouri. -Chiggers
are Everywhere.

Interesting scientific studies dealing
with the relation Of tetanus to vacci
nation were recently completed by
Z Director John IT, Anderson of the
I HYGIENE Laboratory, United States
/ Public Health Service.
Dir. Anderson states that tetanus is
never contracted through vaccine
virus, and he presents evidence which
goes to prove that the limited number
Of authentic cases developing after
inoculation have invariably been due
to contamination of the wound subse-
quent to vaccination.
During the last thirteen years the
hygienic laboratory, charged by law
with the4regulation Of che manufacture
and sale Of vaccines and serums, has
examined specifically for the organism
Of tetanus sufficient vaccine to vacci
nate over two million persons and in
not a single instance was the presence
of tetanus hacilh established. Mon
Bkeys, which are susceptible both to
Evacc1nation and tetanns, were inocu
slated with virus heavily contaminated
with tetanus spores While developing
'stalkes7 they remained absolutely
free from symptoms of tetanus. The
same treatment was accorded guinea
Apigs, equally susceptible to the dis
ease, with similar results. Moreover
the laboratory in several instances
fortunately secured the remaining sam
kples Of vaccine supposed to have caus-
ed tetanus, but examination by the
most delicate tests failed to show con-
Examination, conclusively proving that
THE infection was not contained there
Fin. Records Of the army and navy
were investigated over period Of
eleven years. Not single case Of
tetanus, Of the eight occurring during
that time, was traceable to the five
hundred and fifty five thousand vac
cinations performed.
Since 1904, Anderson has kept ac-
Feurate records Of all cases Of tetanus
which were supposed to be connected
lin any way with vaccination and has
obtained data covering forty-one such
instances, twenty mine Of which ended
fatally. This is much smaller num-
bber than is commonly supposed. Addi-
Etional cases were reported, but upon
investigation they were found not to
kbe tetanus, oryto be clearly attributable
Ito infection through wounds. These
records comprise such. data as the mum
sber of persons vaccinated, result and
fcharacter of the operation, the firm
manufacturing the virus, and other es-
bsential facts. In the majority Of the
kforty-one cases studied it was learned
athat many others were treated with
sthe gsame lot Of virus without harmful
Eeffects. This in itself suggests that
kthesvaccine was not the cancative fac
ktor. Tests Of the virus from the orr
SPINAL packages failed to reveal the
Epresence of the tetanus organisms and
sthus substantiates this conclusion.
During the period meIAioned, it is es-
stimated from manufacturers report
Ethat over thirty-one million people
Ewere vaccinated. The investigator
Fconcludes that if the virus was respon-
Fsible infection would have been much
kmore widespread. DR.. Anderson furth-
Ter shows that under average conditions
stetanus develops within ten days from
kthe receipt Of an injury or the time
bof incubation. The fact that in the
Flew recorded instances following vac
Ecination it,did not develop until nearly
stwenty- days after the treatment
Findicates that inoculation. took place
subsequent to the vaccination.
The investigator concludes that
where tetanus manifests itself infec-
tion is received by contamination Of
Athe vaccination wound in the same
manner as the infection of any other
surgical wound, and that with the
Fordinary precautionary measures there
lis not the slightest fear of the develop
sment of the disease.