ANTI-TOXIN TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1928, Page 3

ANTI-TOXIN TRAGEDY

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association ANALYST’S REPORT. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m). BRISBANE, Feb. L Jacob Christensen, nnalyist for Bundaberg City Council, and Queensland Commissioner for Public Health, said the serum as supplied by the Commonwealth laboratory was perfectly sale, as lias been demonstrated by the fact that inoculations from the 17th to 24th January produced no harmful effects. For some reason or other, however, it was decided to practice economy, and for such purpose serum was obtained in bulk, instead as it should have been obtained in individual doses. Had lie been consulted as a public analyst be would not have permitted the serum to be bought in bulk. The makers of serum knew that each time a container was opened and the air admitted sterilisation was interfered with. In this case, to avoid opening the bottle containing the serum in bulk, a rubber cover over the mouth of the bottle bad been pierced with a syringe and the serum drawn up into it. The contraction of the rubber was relied upon to close the bole made by the syringe. Up to six punctures could be made and perhaps the holes might close again, but if the rubber were tightly stretched, the holes would tend to open, instead of close. The rubber covering would carry an enormous quantity of bacteria, the action of which on the serum they did not know. Jii such cases the serum could not be regarded as safe for more than thirtysix hours. The instructions with the serum were to use it quickly and keep is as was done at Bundaberg.

The Commonwealth authorities have ordered all serum held in Queensland should at once be completely withdrawn from use. During the past year over 1,100 inoculations have been made in Brisbane Hospital and in no instance has there been subsequent trouble. ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED. MELBOURNE, Feb. 1. The Federal Ministry lias appointed n Royal Commission of enquiry into the Buiulaberg deaths.