Is B.C.G. Serum For Tuberculosis Worthless?

Grey River Argus, 27 September 1949, Page 7

Is B.C.G. Serum For Tuberculosis Worthless?

WELLINGTON, September 24 Serious doubts as to the efficacy of inoculation with B.C.G. serum in New Zealand at present were voiced in the Legislative Council yesterday by the Hon. W. Grounds (North Auckland). In support of his contentions he quoted the “Lancet,” a journal which publishes authoiitative observations by British doctors. Bacilli- Calmette- Geurin (8.C.G.) was recently introduced in New Zealand as a preventive, if not a curative measure against tuberculosis. As a basis for his doubts as to the efficacy of the serum here, Mr. Grounds quoted the “Lancet” of May 28, 1949, as explaining that B.C.G. commonly became unsafe or ineffective eight days after its manufacture. Eight days was considered the usable period. In addition, not more than three days before inoculation, the patient should be checked by speciallytrained doctors for certain reactions. The position with New Zealand’s supply of serum was that it was produced in Melbourne on a Monday and dispatched to New Zealand by air on a Wednesday, said Mr. Grounds. On the Saturday, of the same week a report was cabled from Melbourne to New Zealand as to the positive efficacy of the particular batch of B.C.G. That left an extremely narrow margin for the testing of individuals and subsequent arrangements for the' actual inoculation before the eight days expired beyond which B.C.G. might or might not be safe or effective. This applied acutely in remoter districts.

Mr. Grounds went on to say that this kind of “artificial procedure” had at present a doubtful value in the Dominion and New Zealand was simply supporting what some medical men thought was a “great ramp” in connection with tuberculosis.

External procedures, he continued, dominated internal ones. In this country there were means of turning almost certain tuberculosis cases into healthy members of society. There were advantageous conditions for building up resistance against the disease instead of using artificial procedures which in the end would be found unsatisfactory, said Mr. Grounds. His answer to the problem was in proper nutrition. Tuberculosis would remain a menace until malnutrition was eliminated.