Protective vaccinations 485 



In Egypt and in Cyprus according to the statistics communicated 

 to Dr Wright 1 by Col. Fawcett these vaccinations have given even 

 better results. In 2,669 unvaccinated persons there occurred 68 cases 

 of typhoid fever with 10 deaths, whilst amongst the 720 vaccinated 

 there was only a single case of this disease, this single case suc- 

 cumbing. Here, however, we have to do with a patient who must 

 have received the vaccinal inoculation during the period of incubation, 

 the disease breaking out soon after the vaccination. This would 

 represent in all the cases a morbidity only one-seventeenth as intense 

 amongst the vaccinated. 



A few isolated voices only have not pronounced in favour of the [508] 

 antityphoid vaccinations and their opinion is formulated in a very 

 undecided fashion. Amongst the most important of these adver- 

 saries, if indeed we may term them such, must be cited Washbourn 2 , 

 on account of his experience in microbiology. Attached as a doctor 

 to the Yeomanry Hospital at Deelfontein in South Africa, he 

 witnessed many cases of typhoid fever and was greatly struck by the 

 death of two persons amongst the vaccinated patients. But he 

 himself confesses that it is as yet premature to judge Wright's 

 method, and in support of his sceptical attitude does not offer any 

 other satisfactory observation. 



Outside the English colonies vaccinations against typhoid fever 

 have been tried in Russia by Wyssoko witch 3 . He inoculated 

 235 soldiers of a regiment encamped at Kiew, amongst whom an 

 epidemic of typhoid fever had broken out. The vaccinations were 

 carried out by means of cultures killed with carbolic acid. We are 

 unable to judge of the efficacy of the method because the number 

 of persons vaccinated was too small and the epidemic too limited. 

 It may be noted, however, that amongst these individuals not one 

 took typhoid fever, whilst amongst the unvaccinated three cases 

 of the disease were registered. 



The antityphoid vaccinations have as yet only a very short history, 

 and it is, perhaps, premature to express any decided opinion on the 

 matter. We may, however, consider the results already obtained as 

 offering encouragement to continue our experiments. Everything, 

 indeed, tends to a recognition of the utility of vaccinations by means 

 of killed typhoid cultures. The statistics are as a rule good ; the 



1 Lancet, London, 1901, Vol. i, p. 1272. 



2 Brit. Med. Journ., London, 1900, Vol. i, p. 1456. 



3 Gaz. din. de Botkine, St Petersb., 1899, p. 1911 (in Russian). 



