Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-08-02
VACCINE VIRUS NOT CAUSE
OF TFTANUS

Interesting scientific studies dealing
with the relation Of tetanus to vaccina-
tion were recently completed by Di-
rector John F. Anderson Of the ny
gienio laboratory. Z. $. public health
service.
DR.. 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 in
ocuIauon have invariably been due to
contamination Of the wound subse-
.quent TO vaccination.
During the last IS years the by
gienic laboratory. charged by law with
f the regulation OF the manufacture and
sale Of vacetnes and Berums, has eZ-
amined specifically for the organism
of tetauus sufficient vaccine to vaccin-
ate over 100000 persons and in not
single instance was the presence Of
tetauus bacilu established. Monkeys.
which are susceptible both 10 vacci-
nation and tetanus, were fnocuiated
with virus heavily contaminated with
tetanus spores. While developing
takes" they remained absolutely free
from symptoms of tetanus. The same
/ treatment was accorded guinea pigs,
equally susceptible to the disease. with
similar results. Moreover the lab0ra-
tory in several instances fortunately
secured the remaining samples of vac
cine supposed TO have caused tetanus,
but examination by the most delicate
tests failed 10 show contamination,
concIusively proving that the infection
was not contained therein. Records Of
the army and navy were investigated
over q period Of il years. Not single
case of tetanus, of the eight during
that time, was traceabIe to the 585,000
vaccinations performed
Since 1908, Anderson has kept aC-
curate records of all cases of retanus
which were supposed to be connected
in any way with vaccination and has
obtained data covering Al such in
stances, % Of which ended fatally.
This is q much smaller number than is
commonly supposed Additional
cases were reported, but upon investi-
cation they were found not to be te-
tanus. or to be clearly attributable to
infection through wounds. These
records comprise such data as the
number Of persons vaccinated. result
and character of the operation. the firm
manufacturing the virus. and other es-
senttal facts. In the majority Of the
Al cases studied it was learned that
many others We're treated with the
same lot Of virus without harmful eff
fects This in itself suggests that the
vaccine was not the causative factor
Tests of the virus from the original
packages failed to reveal the presence
of the tetanus organisms and thus sub
stimulates this conclusion. During the
period mentioned. it is estimated from
manufacturers reports that over 3D..
600 600 people were vaccinated. The
investigator concludes that if the virus
was responsible infection would have
been much more widespread. Or. An
ders0n further shows that under aver
age conditions tetanus develops within
10 days from the receipt of an injury
or the time of incubation. The fact
that in the few recorded instances fol-
lowing vaccination II uIu uOI ueFelop
until nearly q days after the treat
ment indicates that incubation took
place subsequent to the vaccination.
The investigator concludes that
where tetanus manifests itself infec-
ton Is received by contamination of
the vaccination wound in the same
manner as the infection of any other
e7rorica1 ,trouu1 and 4}ef yT-i+l, Tho r,v-Is
nary precautionary measures there is
not the slightest fear Of the develop
ment of the disease