BUNDABERG VICTIMS

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1928, Page 5

BUNDABERG VICTIMS

INOCULATION FATALITIES

BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION.

yiTAL WARNING OMITTED.

(United Press Assn. Copyright.) (Received 10 a.m.)

BRISBANE, This Day. The Serum Commission appointed to investigate the deaths of a number of children in Bundaberg Hospital, following on inoculation against diphtheria, has commenced 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 serum were used over a period and urging that it be wholly used immediately. The bottle containing the scrum was stored in the cool surgery. He examined it regularly, and saw no turbidity in it till the day of the tragedy. He had not previously administered similar serum, and 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

sterilizing instruments. On each inoculation day the serum was transported between the surgery and the Counr,<dJv Chambers, where the inoculation

Tyas.dqne, and the rubber-capped scrum r bottle was sterilized.

, .Dr Richards, pathologist, said that the cause of death appeared to be acute toxeexnia. There was toxin of some sort in the infection. He could not ascribe it to any organism. The toxin seemed to focus on the central

Jaerye system;

’■ Dr Murray, of the Federal Department of Health, said he understood that the bottle of serum received by Dr Thompson did not contain a circular giving warning as to its quick use. His name was not in the list of those who received the circulars.—A. and N.Z. ;