Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-30
DOCTORS FAIL TO FIND
MORE TETANUS CASES
Scores of Vaccinated Children
Examined at Burlington
After Deaths of Boys

Examination Of scores of veccinated
school children, following the death from
lockiaw Of Charles and Frederick Perks,
aged and years; respectively, OF as
West Pearl street Burlington. N. J., has
failed TO disclose any additional cases OF
tetanus In that city.
Physicians were kept busy all day
yesterday and last night by frightened
parents whose children had been sub
mitted to vaccination the last month. so
that they might comply with the law be-
fore entering school, but In no case did
the doctors find alarming symptoms.
The charge that the deaths of the chill
dren was caused by impure vaccine virus
supplied by the II. X. milford Company,
chemists, s12-2s South 18th street, was
made by DIR. John s. Conroy, who vacci-
mated the children. Physicians at the
Pennsylvania Hospital, where the chill
dren died yesterday, also ascribed the
disease to the virus.
II. X. Mulford, vice president OF the
company, emphatically denied that the
vaccine virus could posnbly cause
tetanus.
MIR. MULFORDS STATEMENT.
The statement of Mr.. Mulford follows:
Vaccine virus supplied in the United
States is produced exclusively by labora-
tories operating under United States Gov
ernment license and under the personal
supervision OF the United States Depart
ment of Health" he said. "The methods
of preparing and testing virus include
aerohic and annerobic tests, which pre-
clude the presence of harmful germs of
all kinds. An Investigation conducted by
DR. John F. Anderson, director of the
hygienic laboratories of the United states
public health service, reported in Public
Health Report No. 20, volume 80. July 30,
1915, proves conclusively that IL is diff1-
cult, II not impossible to produce tetanus
in susceptible animals by vaccination
with virus, even II such virus contains a
large number OF tetanus organisms pur-
posely placed therein. and that, in view
of the failure to demonstrate tetanus or
ganlsms IN a large amount of vaccine
virus specifically examined for the pur-
pose, 1t seems exceedingly improbable
that vaccine virus. as sold In the United
States, contains tetanus organisms.
From 1904 to 1913, inclusive, more than
31.Oo0,0OO doses of vaccine virus were
used in the United States, and of this
number only IL authentic cases of tetanus
are recorded. If vaccine virus was the
cause of tetanus, many more cases
should have followed vaccination. Dur
ing the same years more than 3S5. 900 men
in the United States army and navy were
vaccinated with the same supplies of vac
cine as distributed through the States,
without a single case of tetanus follow.
ing.
TAKES 10 DAYS TO DEVELOP.
Gases OF tetanus occurring Is or e
days subsequent to vaccination do not
receive their infection through vaccine
virus, but in all probability the infection
Is received about the tenth day after the
vaccination is performed. Suppuratinl
vaccination wounds may be infected with
tctanus germs, the same as may happier
in any other suppurating wound moi
properly cared for
"It is unfortunate that reports are
made without careful investigation. Il
causes needless ALARM and the danger OF
smallpox cannot be avoided except by
successful vaccination. 1t is unfortunat,
also that the present laws require success
full vaccination before children enter
schools in September. This means tha'
vaccination is performed at a time wher
| the virus is not as active, when tn,
| takes will be less frequent, and wheI
| the infected wounds are exposed to dus
| by the children playing in the yards an,
around stables, which are hot beds o
tetanus infection. Vaccination should b,
| performed during cool weather, when tn,
| lymph is most active and when there Il
| less likelihood of the wound becoming in
| fected by dust from yards and streets"
| Doctor Conroy, when he read Mr.. Mul
| fords statement, said
II am still convinced that the diseas
was caused by the virus. Mr.. Mulfor'
does not deny the possibility of tetanu!
| being caused by vaccine virus, but say
| il Is improbable. Improbabilities some
| times occur, however"