Preventive Inoculation against Enteric

Fever. It will

be within the recollection of j'our readers that Professor Wright, of Netley, devoted

all the leisure which he could snatch from his plague duties in India to investigating the effect of anti-typhoid inoculation and endeavouring to soldiers to submit themselves to the process. The evidence which he collected as to the immunity conferred by inoculation was very favourable, and he succeeded in getting large

persuade British

iiutubers of soldiers His enthusiasm and

to submit to the

persistence

operation.

have been

re-

THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.

291

by obtaining encouragement and help highest Military authorities, who are

warded

from the

no harm has resulted in from these inoculations any single instance, and that their prophylactic value has been suffi-

now

fully persuaded

that

ciently demonstrated to justify further trials on large scale. The process is not to be made compulsory, but it is considered right that all facilities should be offered to soldiers willing to undergo the operation, more especially when they are about to proceed to places or on service

a

which

sore

experience

them to risks of

typhoid

has declared to expose infection. Seeing that

mortality of the army the adoption of any enteric fever, by which gives promise of immunity com-

about one-third of the is caused measure

itself, as not only justifiable but also as eminently desirable. India holds a high position in respect to typhoid mortality and will mends

probably constitute the principal field of antit}7phoid inoculations. Evidence regarding the result of these ought to be sedulously collected and made known, whether favourable

or the to be that is it and all who have hoped reverse; the opportunity will aid in the movement and keenly watch its results.

[August

1899.