BUNDABERG TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 9

BUNDABERG TRAGEDY

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY EVIDENCE OF DOCTORS WARNING CIRCULAR NOT RECEIVED BY Telegraph.—Press association. * Copyright. 1 (Rec February 13, 11.35 p.m.) Brisbane, February 13. The Serum Commission appointed to investigate the deaths of children in the Bundaberg Hospital following inoculation to provide immunisation against diphtheria, has comnienced its sittings. Dr. Thompson, local Government medical officer, who inoculated the children, gave evidence that he did not receive the usual circular warning. him against bacterial contamination if the sertim were used over a period, and urging that it be wholly used immediately. The bottle containing the serum was stored .in a cool surgery. He examined it legularlv and saw no turbidity in it till the’day of the tragedy. He had not previously administered similar serum, and had had no experience of the Schick test. After the syringe needle was used it was plunged into methylated spirits and* then used for the next inoculation. The syringe had not been used for months before the fatal inoculations were made. His nurse had charge of- the sterilising of the instruments on each inoculation day. The serum was transported between the surgerv and the Council Chambers, where the inoculation was done, and the rubber-capped seriitn bottle was sterilised. Dr. Richards, pathologist, said tne cause of death appeared to be acute toxaemia. It was a toxin of some sort in infection. He could not ascribe it to any organism. The toxin seemed to centre on the central nerve system. Dr Murray, of the Federal Department of Health, said he understood the bottle of serum received by Dr. Thompson did not contain the circular warning as to its quick use. His name was not in the list of those who received circulars. .