SERUM TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10510, 14 February 1928, Page 5

SERUM TRAGEDY.

INQUIRY OPENS AT BUNJJABERG

HOW INOCULATIONS WERE

GIVEN

.United Press As si). (Received Feb. 13. 11.35 p.m.) BRISBANE. Feb. 13.

The Serum Commission, appointed to investigate the deaths of the children at Bundaberg hospital, has commenced its sittings. Dr Thompson, local government medical officer, who inoculated the children, gave evidence that he did not receive tile usual circular warning him against bacterial contamination if the serum were used over a period and urging that it be wholly used immediately. The bottle containing the serum was stored hi a cool surgery. He examined it regularly and saw no turbidity in it till the "day of the tragedy. He had nut previously administered similar serum, and hud 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 sterilizing instruments for each inoculation day. The serum was transported between the surgery and the council chambers. where"the inoculation was done, The rubber capped serum bottle was sterilized.

Dr Richards, pathologist, said the cause of death appeared to he acute toxaemia, it was toxin of some sort of 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 lie understood the bottle of serum received by Dr Thompson did contain a circular warning him as to its quick use. but his name was not in the list, of those who received circulars.