ANTI-TYPHOID VACCINATION 73 



The results of Major F. F. Russell, U. S. A., a man who has had 

 much experience, since he was in charge of the army vaccinations, 

 are interesting and instructive. He says: 



1. "Anti- typhoid vaccinations in healthy persons is a harmless 

 procedure. 



2. It confers almost absolute immunity against infection. 



3. It is the principal cause of the immunity of our troops against 

 typhoid in the recent Texas maneuvers. 



4. The duration of the immunity is not yet determined, but is 

 assuredly two and one-half years and probably longer. 



5. Only in exceptional cases does its administration cause an 

 appreciable degree of personal discomfort. 



6. It apparently protects against the chronic bacillus carriers, 

 and is at present the only means by which a person can be protected 

 against typhoid under all conditions. 



7. All persons whose profession or duty involves contact with the 

 sick should be immunized. 



8. The general vaccination of an entire community is feasible 

 and could be done without interfering with general sanitary 

 improvements and should be urged wherever the typhoid rate is 

 high." 



The present method is to give three injections six to ten days 

 apart of definite numbers of typhoid bacilli of a strain known to 

 produce a good quantity of agglutinins and other anti-bodies. The 

 injections usually number 100,000,000, 500,000,000 and 1,000,- 

 000,000. 



Vaccination Against Plague. 



Haffkine, in India, has vaccinated many natives and others 

 against plague by somewhat the same methods employed in anti- 

 cholera vaccination. The B. pestis is cultivated in flasks of bouillon ; 

 as it grows, the stalactite-like scum on top is shaken from time 

 to time to the bottom of the flask. After growing for six weeks in 



