The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-11-04
FLU VACCINE
EXPERTS NOT
OF MAYO BROS.
Health Authorities Urge Public
To Go Slow in Being
InnOculated.
EXPERTS MAY BE FAkIRS
Rochester, Minn., Hospital and
DIR. c. ]. McGurren Deny
knowledge of Them.
EXPERTS MAY BE FAkIRS

A serious question exists as to the
integrity Of several alleged physicians
who have operated in the Bismarck
territory for a week or more. admins
tering an alleged anti-flu serum or
vaccine and representing themselves,
in some instances, it is said, as repre-
sentatives OF the Mayo Bros, clinic at
Rochester,, MINI. - "'
Because these so-called "emergency'
physicians did not operate through or
| cooperate with local health officers;
because, in fact, they seemed anxious
to avoid contact with local health Of
ficcrs, DR.. r. Fl. Smyth, assistanQ
| surgeon of the U. S. public health SER
vice for North Dakota, last week un-
Tdertook an investigation which dis
closes these facts:
..d Nobody Knows Them.
DR.. G.. J. McGurren, secretary of the
state board of health and field direct
or of the United States public health
service, has no knowledge of emerg-
ency physicians from Mayo Bros.
using vaccine and operating in the vi
cinity of Linton, Emmons county.
Mayo Bros. of Rochester, Mimi, dis
claim all knowledge of physicians
from their hospital doing emergency
work or using vaccine in North Da-
kota.
The public is therefore justified,
Bismarck health officers believe, i'll
viewing these "emergency doctors"
and their vaccine" with some skeptl-
cism. Only one of these doctors has
been identified by name. He was
operatinf last week at Linton. So far
as can be learned he did not person
ally state that he represented Mayo
Bros. nor that he was using their
vaccine. This impression became
current, however. and it may be pos
sible that the public is deceiving IT.
self.
Swyth Takes Initiative.
When DR.. Smyth read In The Trlp-
une last week that Emergency physl-
clans from Mayo Eros. hospital at Ro-
chester. Minn., have been here for
several days ministering to the needs
of the rural Districts ne wired &. j.:
McGurren at Devils Lake, director OF
U. S. public health service, as fol-
lows: CDR Strauss Knows nothing
about these physicians, and they ap-
parently do not cooperate with the
health officials. Do you know any
thing about it, Same physicians said
| to be operating around Linton, En-
mons county,
! DR.. McGurren Immediately replied,
denying any knowledge OF emergency
physicians from Mayo Bros. operating
in the state Or using anti-flu vaccine.
DR.. V. J. LaRose. chairman OF the
North Dakota medical advisory board,
conducted similar investigation with
the same results. Either the public
| has been imposed upon, or it has de-
ceived itself in this matter. In either
case, health authorities urge that peo'
pie use caution in submitting to lnoc-
ulations with any so-called ant1-flu
vaccine at the hands OF unknown ply
sicians.
In Experimental Stage.
1.-The use of serums or vaccines for
| the cure or prevention of influenza
is still in the experimental stage
,advised DR.. Smyth today, although
! statistical evidence would indicate
that the use of influenza vaccine has
some prophylactic value. ay &a
| "Most health authorities are con-
servative in regard to advocating the
general use of vaccines, and urge that
other safeguards should not be neg
lected.
people should especially be on
their guard against irresponsible in
dividuals travelling around the coun-
try and claiming to be authorized by
| the state or federal health authorities
| to administer vaccines. usually for a
small fee.
"All government and other reliable
serums or vaccines will be distributed
/ to physicians through accredfted
health officials.
at is dangerous to use such prep
arations indiscriminately.'
f7ontinued on paRo eight)