Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-20
THE NATIONAL GERM SUPPLY
Efficacy of Vaccination Against
Typhoid Fever Now Admitted
Wnr Proved II and Civilians n Well
a. Soldiers May Now lie Rem
dered Immune, Free OF
Charge
CBy FREDERIC J. HAsKIN)

(By FREDERIC j. HASklN)
If you live in a region where typhoid
fever occurs regularly, you should make
Yourself immune to this disease by vac.
cination.
The efficacy of vaccination against ty-
phoid fever Ia 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 undoubtedly a large factor
in the conquest of this disease, which has
taken heavy toll Of almost every other
army.
The scientists proved the efficacy of
their typhoid vaccine by trying 1t on ami
mails before they gave it to men. But they
also proved it's value by actual results.
Dysentery, for example. which is spread
in exactly the same ways as typhoid.
was widely prevalent. An anti-dysentery
serum has been devised but 1t was not
widely or successfully used. 1t seems GER
tain that the use of anti-typhoid vaccine
made all Of the difference in prevalence
between typhoid and dysentery
There Is disease very similar TO ty
phoid known as paratyphod. During the
early part of the war, vaccine against ty-
phoid only was given. Paratyphoid be-
came common. Organisms of this dis
ease were then included in the doses Of
vaccine given, and paratyphoid also was
practically eliminated.
In the early stages OF the war. when the
use of the vaccine was still regarded as
experimental, all Of the men Of some reg
iments were vaccinated, while all Of those
Of others. living under similar conditions,
were left unvaccinated. The occurrence
81 hnA 1f,,II,
compared. 1t showed conclusively that the
vaccinated men were practically immune
to the disease. while the unvaccinated
were a prey 10 It.
Among the civilian population OF this
country the occurrence of typhoid fever
has been greatly reduced in recent years
by the Improvement OF water supplies
Yet typhoid still takes heavy toll Of
life In the United States every year, and
most persons do not seem to realize that
II Is possible to make themselves immune
to this disease by n simple and inexpen-
sive operation.
At present vaccination against typhoid
Is not only inexpensive. but Is free to
all American citizens. An order was is
sued during the war directing the public
health service to vaccinate against ty-
phoid 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 1t 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. 1t would be we'll
TO go to a public health officer II possible.
! fDr tt,n pt,,a aud artsVN, do in fhn
hygienic laboratory are the best In the
country. They are, in fact, the standards
according to which all others are manu-
| featured.
Few Americans realize that a great lab
oratory Is maintained in Washington for
the purpose of protecting the public
against inferior and fraudulent serums
and vaccines Nor do many Of them real
ize what enormous quantities Of these
preparations are made and used. nor how
essential they are to the maintenance Of
health. Small poX vaccine is the only
one Of these preparations that is we'll
known to the public. Yet anti-diptheria
esurm and anti-tetanic serum are now
| the standard remedies against diptheria
and tetanus Typhoid vaccine has become
recognized as an almost sure preventive
of that disease. Rabies, or hydrophobia,
| one of the most terrible diseases known.
can be cured surely by the use Of biolog-
zeal product and in no other way.
This use of germs and germ products in
| combating disease Is one or the lines along
which medical science is advancing most
| rapidly. 1t IL one Of the most cheering
phases OF civilizations battle against dis
ease and death. New serums and vac
| cnes are being experimental with con-
| stantly. Right now. for example. the ny
gienic laboratory Is experimenting with
anti-pneumococcus serum. which Is SER
um designed to prevent pneumonia II al
ready seems certain that this serum does
good In some cases and against some
forms of the disease. All Of the person
mel Of the hygienic laboratory have been
| inoculated with this serum as part OF
their experiments. In all, the laboratory
has about 10000 persons under observation
who have been treated with this serum.
one of the great dreams and hopes of
medical science Is a serum or vaccine
which will cure tuberculosis This seems
10 be the best hope of a specific cure for
that disease. Many such serums and vac
| cines have been brought to the public
health service by men who devised them
and all have been thoroughly tested on
animals in the hygienic laboratory. The
oretically. It should be possible to pro-
duce a biological specific for tuberculosis
but 50 far none has been produced good
enough to justify the public health SER
vice In licensing It's manufacture.
For no serum or vaccine can be sold
! in interstate trade. imported or exported
In this country, without a license from the
public health service This means. In ef-
feet, that all manufacturers are licensed
and supervised by the public health SER
vice. 1t means that this service guaran-
tees us n pure-germ supply, just as the
department Of agriculture tries to guar.
antee us pure food supply.
These biological products, which play
such large and growing part in the bat
| tie against disease, are chiefly OF two
kinds. The vaccines arc preparations con.
tanning the actual germs of the disease
sometimes dead and sometimes alive The
serums are made from the blood OF ami.
mails infected with the disease 1t is de-
sired to combat. and they contain the
protective principle which the body man.
ufactures in fighting the disease.
Thus, when you are vaccinated agains,
typhoid fever. there Is injected into your
body about half n billion germs Of the
disease, which have been raised In the
body OF an animal. These germs produce
a very mild form OF the disease In you
causing you little discomfort but causing
your body TO manufacture the protective
principle which kills the disease. This
principle protects you from typhoid for
u period OF from one to four years
| bnx va iph no oil a,