INNOCULATION TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 19892, 14 June 1928, Page 6

INNOCULATION TRAGEDY

THE BUHDABERC DEATHS ROYAL COMMISSION'S FINDING Pms Assoeiatiou—By Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, Juno 14. (Received June 14, at 10.45 a.m.) The Royal Commission blames the absence of antiseptics in the toxin and anti-toxin for the deaths of the twelve children at Bundaberg (Queensland) after inoculation by Dr E. G. Thomson on January 27. The Commission, whoso report was tabled in the House of # Representatives, recommends that biological products in which the growth of pathogenic bacteria is possible should not bo issued in rubbbcr-capped containers for repeated use wiess there is present a sufficient cofifcerntration of antiseptics to inhibit bacterial growth. The Commission finds that the serum used by Dr Thomson was properly prepared and was sterile, hut it contained no antiseptic and no warning label, which was an unsound procedure. Dr Thomson used his fingers instead ot sterile foreceps in fixing the needle to the nozzle of the syringe, thus_ giving an apportunity for contamination. A further possibility of contamination arose from the exposure to the air. The Minister of Health proposes to continue the _ investigations into the organisms which caused the deaths.