Tuberculosis & Babies

"Only the tuberculous are immune from tuberculosis," is a theory long held by physicians. About 90% of the population are mildly infected early in life, set up a resistance, die of automobile accidents, bad oysters, or other causes; show tuberculous lesions on autopsy. Dr. Leon Charles Albert Calmette, assistant director of the Pasteur Institute, and Dr. G. Guerin, decided to reinforce this naturally acquired immunity. They reasoned that if each newborn child were inoculated with tubercle bacilli too weak to produce tuberculosis but strong enough to produce immunity, mortality would be immeasurably cut down. For many years they worked to weaken the little bugs and yet keep them alive. Of these they made a vaccine and inoculated cattle with great success (TIME, July 7, 1924). They made a vaccine for humans; sent it to the Pasteur Institute at Kindia on the coast of French West Africa. Here were man's nearest biological relatives in their natural environment.

A group of apes and chimpanzees was inoculated with the bacillary vaccine of

Calmette and Guerin, B. C. G. for short. None died.

Another group was inoculated with active tuberculosis. All died.

A third group was not treated. Most died. All three groups played together.

This experiment was many times repeated. Finally it was deemed safe for humans. French and Belgian physicians collaborated to inoculate the newborn, particularly those with tuberculous antecedents. Thousands of babies have been shot with B. C. G. in the last five years, and their progress carefully watched. Many of them were born and raised in a tuberculous environment, nursed by tuberculous mothers. Mortality has been cut down from the old average of 26% during the first year to 1%. The immunity so far has lasted four years and there were no deaths reported during that time. The vaccination itself is reported harm less, but it must be administered within the first ten days of life. Last week the French Academy of Medicine buzzed with attack and innuendo. Professor Lignieres of Buenos Aires had come out flat-footedly against B. C. G., claiming that tuberculous infection could result from inoculation with the vaccine. Three sessions were devoted to the controversy. During the second Dr. Calmette calmly presented statistics in de fense of his vaccine. There was no single instance of tuberculosis development in an inoculated child who had been living in sanitary surroundings. To date there have been 80,000 vaccinations. The third session was given over to the scientific proofs of which Professor Lignieres had so loudly spoken. These consisted of records of calves and guinea pigs who developed tuberculosis after having been shot with B. C. G. But he could not prove whether the infection came from B. C. G. or from some outside source. Frequent interruptions from a large and fashionable audience* in the gallery brought the presiding officer's gavel sharply down upon the table. The floor was crowded with august Academicians. Feeling was strong that Professor Lignieres' accusations were unjustified in the face of his evidence. To his recommendation that only children in danger of tuberculosis should be vaccinated, Professor Leon Bernard, head of the tuberculosis clinic, replied, smiling: "There are no children who are not in danger." Cheers. Order.

*Explained by the fact that smart people have made B. C. G. a subject of polite conversation since 1924 when cries of "Wolf, Wolf!" greeted Dr. Calmette's announcement.