SERUM AND TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21141, 26 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

SERUM AND TRAGEDY.

SEVENTY-SIX BABIES DIE. - TERRIBLE " MISTAKE." PROFESSOR SENT TO GAOL. . ' One of the most poignant chapters in modern medical history was brought 1o a close lately at Lubeck. Germany, when tho local court, which had been trying three doctors and a nurse of the municipal hospital on charges arising out of the deaths of 76 babies, who were inoculated with a scrum to immuniso them against tuberculosis, pronounced sentence. Professor Deycke, tho director of the hospital, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, wliilo his colleague, Dr.. Altstaedt, was sent to prison for 15 months. Professor Klotz and Nurse Anna Schutzo were acquitted. Tho deaths of tho babies occurred in 1930, after Lubeck health officers had

inoculated 253 children with tho famous Calmette preparation. Experts decided that tho tragedy was not duo to the Calrnetto process itself, invented by the famous French scientist of that name. Professor Deycke was accused of having placed the Calmette preparation in the same incubator a virulent human tubercle-cultures, and with having failed to perform tho usual precautionary experiments upon animals before distributing tho preparation for use on infants. Charge of Negligence. Dr. Altstacdt, according to the indictment, was alleged to have ignored a warning from the Federal health authorities regarding tho use of the preparation, and to have neglected to cancel tho distribution of further cultures after they were already suspect. Tho history of tho case dates back to 1929, when ,ihe Lubeck Health Council decided to adopt the Calmette process for newly-born infants. Tho Calmette-Guerin bacillus was obtained and cultivated by Professor Deycke. Tho preparation was administered to many infants with their milk. Early in 1930, however, misgivings began to bo felt about the condition of the children so treated. Some of the children were taken to hospital, where tuberculosis was diagnosed. In April, 1930, after 253 children had been inoculated, tho treatment was discontinued. In the following months 76 children died and many others fell ill. For months tragedy stalked tho homes of Lubcck parents. Not only did death come to a growing number of babies, but panic-stricken mothers waited and sought symptoms of tho deadly infection among their " Calmette-fed " children. Nobody knew which child would bo spared and which stricken. Deycke's Research Work. Professor Deycke is known for his research work in tuberculosis. Ho caused a sensation during the trial by announcing that ho had inoculated himself with the serum in order to prove that the death of tho babies was duo to a mistake. At tho end of tiio trial Dr. Lienau, tho Public Prosecutor, demanded slightly higher sentences than thopo now pronounced against accused, but declared that Sister Schulzo should be acquitted. Dr. Klotz, tho prosecutor told the Court, had all the more reason to wish to rescue the children under his earn from tuberculosis, as only a short whilo before tho tragedy ho had lost his wife from the same disease.