Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-11-01

which will prevent or alleviate the dan
gers of the influenza The Journal OF
American Medical association is the
highest authority in existence on such
matters and the following report on the
subject of vaccines or serums, in the issue
of Oct. 10, 1918, viii be of interest to
our readers:
Vaccines in Influenza.
With the appearance Of the epidemic
of influenza, reports began to appear,
chiefly in newspapers, as to new serums,
vaccines, drugs and other methods for
checking and even for curing the disease.
A few samples of such as have come
to the Journal appear in our Tonics and
Sedatives department this week In
Massachusetts, Commissioner f. r. Kelly
appointed two committees to investigate
the value of influenza vaecines as pre-
-ventive agent and as a treatment OF the
disease The first committee, a special
board for scientific investigation, consist
ing of DIR. NJ. J. Rosenau, chairman, and
Frederick P. Gay and George w. Mccoy,
was appointed to consider the evidence
available ON the prophylactic and thera-
peutic use of vaccines against influenza
This committee presented the following
conclusions:
l. The evidence at hand affords no
trustworthy basis for regarding prophy-
= - srHt of
value in preventing the spread of the
disease, or of reducing its severity. The
evidence from the present epidemic,
though meager, suggests that the incl
dence of the disease among the vaecinat-
ed is smaller than among the nonvac-
cinated. The board, therefore, concludes
that further experimental evidence
should be collected.
2. The evidence at hand convinces the
board that the vaccines we have consid-
cred have no specific value in the treat
ment of influenza.
3. There is evidence that no unfavor-
able results have followed the use of vac
cines.
The second committee, known as the
Special Board of Statistical Investiga-
ton. consisted of Dr. George c. Whipple,
chairman, William H. Davis and F. c.
Crum. This committee reported;
!. The weight Of such statistical evi-
denee as we have been able to aeeumu-
late indicates that the use of the influ-
enza vaccine which we have investigated
is without therapeutic benefit. Exeep-
tional cases where apparent benefit has
resulted from the use of the vaccine can
be matched off by other cases where sim
liar recoveiies have been made without
?. The statistical evidence, as far as
it goes, indicates a probability that the
use of this influenza vaccine has some
value.
3. There is also some evidence to the
effect that other methods Of protection,
such as open-air treatment and the use
If proper masks, are effective in protect
NO exposed attendants, and the use Of
vaccine should not be taken as an ex-
use for omitting such safeguards.
As a result, the following recommend
ltions were made:
That the state encourage the distribu-
ion of influenza vaccine intended for
,rophylactic use, but in such manner as
viii secure scientific evidence of the pos
ible value of the agent. The use of such
-accine is to be regarded as experimental
That the state shall neither furnish
lor endorse any vaccine at present in
lse for the treatment of influenza.
These reports are conservative, and Of
er to other health commissioners and
heir communities reliable guide as to
PROCEDURES that should be adopted before
ubiecting or trying out on the public
nv method of prevention or treatment
hat may be offered. These matters are
he domain of medical science, and med
al scientists of recognized ability
hould be called on to make the decision
OF INTEREST TO NURSES.
Word comes from Red Cross head
uarters to the effect that some nurses
ave refused to sign and return the
uestionaires sent out to them, fearing
lev might be called to service they did
OF desire. The Supervisor of Nurse
urvey requests the Journal to state
lat the questionable sent to nurses is
mt at the request of the Surgeon Gen
al of the army and the information is
sired purely for statistical purposes
ID places the nurse answering the same
ider no obligations whatever. She viii
at liberty to do as she pleases as to