The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-08-03
Vaccine Virus Not
the Cause of Tetanus.

Interesting scientific studies deal
ing with the relation Of tetanus to
vaccination were recently completed
by Director John F. Anderson Of the
HYGIENE Laboratory, U. S. 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 num-
Der Of authentic cases developing
after incubation have invariably been
due to contamination of the wound
subsequent to vaccination.
During the last 10 years the ny
gienic Laboratory, charged by law
with the regulation OF the manufac-
ture and sale Of vaccines and serums,
has examined specifically for the or
ganism of tetanus sufficient vaccine
to vaccinate over 2,00O,o 900 persons
and is not single instance was the
presence of tetanus bacilli establish
ed. Monkeys, which are susceptible
both to vaccination and tetanus,
were inoculated with virus heavily
contaminated with tetanus spores.
While developing "takes" they re-
NAMED absolutely free from symp-
toms. The same treatment was ac-
corded guinea pigs, equally suscepti-
bic to the disease, with similar re-
suits. Moreover the laboratory in
several instances fortunately secured
the remaining samples of vaccine sup
posed to have caused tetanus, but
examination by the most delicate tests
failed to show contamination, con-
clusively proving that the infection
was not contained therein. Records
of the Army and Navy were inves-
tigated over period Of IL years.
Not a single case of tetanus, of the
j eight occurring during that time, was
traceable to the 5s5,00o vaccinations
performed.
Since 1904, Anderson has kept ac-
curate records of all cases of tetanus
which were supposed to be connected
IN any way with vaccination and has
obtained data covering Al such in
stances, 20 of which ended fatally.
This is a much smaller number than
is commonly supposed. Additional
cases were reported, but upon inves-
tigation they were found not to be
tstanus, 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 essential facts. In the major
ity Of the Al cases studied it was
learned that many others were treat
ed with the same lot of virus without
harmful effects. This in itself sug-
gests 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 substantiates
this conclusion. During the period
mentioned, it is estimated from man
ufacturers' reports that over 81
100000 people were vaccinated. The
investigator concludes that If the
virus was responsible infection would
have been much more widespread.
DR.. Anderson further shows that I'M
der average conditions tetanus de-
velops within 10 days from the re-
ceipt of an injury or the time of in
oculation. The fact that in the few
recorded instances following vaccine
ton it did not develop until nearly
q days after the treatment indicates
that incubation took place subse-
quent to the vaccination.
The investigator concludes that
where tetanus manifests itself infec-
ton is received by contamination of
tho vaccination wound in the same
manner as the infection of any other
surgical wound, and that with the or
binary precautionary measures there
is not the slightest fear of the de-
velopment of the disease.