The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-14
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM MATION
BUREAU
FREDERIC T.. HAgKIN, p.rse4or,
waahinktau. Q. c.
THE NATIONAL GERM SUPPLY.
washinktam. d c

1
! Washington D. c., Nov. 10.-If you
live in a region where typhoid fever
occurs regularly, you should make
vaccination
The efficacy of vaccination against
typhoid fever is one thing which the
war proved conclusively. Typhoid
fever was practically eliminated from
our army. This was done partly by
careful hygienic regulations, but the
use of the typhoid vaccine was un-
| doubtedly large factor in the con-
quest OF this disease. which has taken
heavy toll of almost every other army.
| The scientists proved the efficacy of
| their typhoid vaccine by trying it on
animals before they gave it to men.
But they also proved its value by ac-
tual results. Dysentery, for example,
which is spread in exactly the same
| ways typhoid, was widely preva-
been devised but it was not widely or
successfully used. 1t seems certain
that the use of anti-typhoid vaccine
made all of the difference in preva-
| lence between typhoid and dysentery.
| There is q disease very similar to
typhoid known as paratyphoid. Dur
ing the early part of the war, vaccine
against typhoid only was given. Para
/ typhoid became common. Organisms
| of this disease we're then included in
|
| typhoid also was practically eliminated.
| In the early stages of the war, when
| the use of the vaccine was still regard
/ ed as experimental, ali of the men of
some regiments were vaccinated, while
all of those of others, living under
| similar conditions, were left unvacci-
mated The occurrence of typhoid in
| the two bodies was carefully COM
pared. It showed conclusiveiy that
the vaecinated men were practically
immune to the disease, while the un-
Vaccinated were a prey to it.
| Among the civilian population of
this country the occurrence of typhoid
| fever has been greatly reduced in re-
cent years by the improvement of
water supplies Yet typhoid still takes
a heavy toll of life in the United States
every year. and most persons do not
seem to realize that it is possible to
make themselves immune TO this dis
ease by a simple and Inexpensive
operation.
At present, vaccination against ty-
phoid is not only inexpensive but is
free to all American citizens. An or
der was issued during the war directing
the public health service to vaccinate
against typhoid fever any civilians
who applied for such treatment. The
order is still in force. If you will go
to the public health station nearest
your home and apply for vaccination,
it will be given you free of charge,
Some state health departments also
offer it free. Some of the state health
departments are just as competent as
the federal health service, but this is
not true of all of them. It would be
we'll to go to a public health officer if
possible, for the vaccines apd serun1s
made in the hygienic laboratory are
the best in the country. They are. in
fact, the standards according to which
all others are manufa ctured.
Few Americans realize that a great
laboratory is maintained in Washing
public against inferior and fraudulent
tseFunls and vaccines Nor do many of
them realize what enormous quantities
of these preparations are made and
used, nor how essential they are to the
maintenance of health. Smallpox
vaccine is the only one of these prepa-
rations that is well known to the pub
lie. Yet anti-diphtheria. serum and
antf-tetanic serum are now the stand
ard remedies against diphtheria ana
tetanus Typhoid vaccine has become
recognized as an almost sure preVen-
tive of that disease Rabies, or hydro
phobia, one of the most terrible dis
eases known. can be cured surely by
the use of biological product and in no
other way.
This use of germs and germ prod
ucts in combating disease is one of the
lines along which medical science is
alyancing most rapidly. It is one Of
he most cheering phases of ciyiliza-
TONS battle against disease and
7eatf. New serums and taecines are
'seing experimental with constantly.
eight now, for example. the hygienic
2boratory is experimenting with anti
sneumococcus serum, which is a SER
m designed to prevent pneumonia.
: already seems certain that this
erum does good in some cases and
zainst some forms of the disease.
Il of the personnel of the hygienic
aoratory have been ineculated with
lis serum as a part of their expert
-7ents. In all. the laboratory has
bout ten thousand persons under OBJ
-ervation who have been treated with
this serum.
One of the great dreams and hopes
of medical science is a serum or vac
cine which will cure tuberculosis
This seems to be the best hope of a
i: specific cure for that disease Many
such serums and vaccines have been
brought to the public health service BY
/ men who devised them. and all have
been thoroly tested on animals in the
hygienic laboratory. Theoretically, II
should be possible to produce a bio