Baxter Springs news., 1918-02-01
SOCIETY PROTESTS
AGAINST sERUMs
Declares That Practice Of InOc-
ulatiOn in Camps Is a Direct
Aid to the Enemy In
Telegram to Gard

tlomStSI VINO nave palu Close Attention
to the serum treatment (serums be-
ing the product Of vivisection) have
sent o telegram 10 Representative
Warren Gard is Washington, who
following the passing away from
pneumonia Of Major Gardner al
Camp Wheeler, introduced in the
House o resolution demanding infor-
nation on treatment accorded soldiers
in army camps throughout the coun-
try, and directing inquiry into the Sc.
lection of camp sites, the amount Of
illness in each camp, supply Of cloth.
ing, sufficiency Of barracks and tent
age, hospital facilities, camp santa
tion and cleanliness
The telegram says: "You and your
colleagues will Immediately have q
definite and complete explanation Of
camp illness and deaths, If you will
turn your attention to the fact that
the recruit is invariably and repeat
edly inoculated with serums that
poison the blood, thus reducing vital
ity and inviting the ravages Of dis
eases.
"The variety Of poisons called
serums are administrated, the doctors
state, to prevent typhoid and to make
the men moral, and to make them i'm
mune from all diseases. Different
serums are mixed and the compound
administered as q short cut to i'm
munity. Notwithstanding that our re-
cruits are picked men, passing physi-
cal and moral examinations, they
quickly become i'll, and many that
survive are incapicitated for war
work. Our hospitals are overflowing.
Government funds and the time of
doctors who should be busy as sani-
tary experts are thus needlessly di-
verted.
"The insurance which the Govern
ment is now writing for the soldiers
amounts to billions Of dollars. Much
Of this will be paid out a. q result of
serum treatment, if that treatment is
continued.
"The Surgeon-General's weekly re-
ports on Camp sickness. state figures
and circumstances which serve to con-
firm our contention. But Congress and
the public are given various explana-
tions other than the right one. The
vivisectional production Of serums has
become commercial. Those who per-
sist in inoculations either from ignor-
ance, fear or professional pride are
aiding the enemy.
Consider conditions prior to cold
weather, on June 2, the New York
Evening Journal reported from Pitts
burgh that an unknown poison, (prob-
ably ptomaine which is unclassifed
by the medical world, it has been de-
cided today, was responsible for the
death of Lieut.. William F. COrcOran
of Philadelphia, and the illness of
more than 40 other Pennsylvania ma
tional guardsmen.
Further, we find amongst a mass
of press reports, q recent case at
Camp Wadsworth, Corporal Luke T.
Burke died at the hospital. His illness
puzzled the doctors, who finally called
it ptomaine poisoning.
"If an assault is to be made against
the War Department, as the press re-
port indicates, let it have to do with
the serum treatment, for the illnesses
and deaths reported are out of reas-
enable proportion to the declared lack
of sanitation and supplies. Unless
your investigation is rightly directed
you will only be creating a fruitless
excitement through which the guilty
will escape.
"The National Anti-Vivisection Fed
GRAFTON.
"Diana Belais, Vice-President."