Inoculation for Students.

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Among the many lessons to be gleaned from the European War is one concerning which there is very little diversity of opinion. Recent reports have demonstrated the very great value of anti-typhoid inoculation in preventing typhoid fever, not only in the army but also in civilian population. The anti-typhoid inoculations are now regarded as much a part of the necessary equipment of those going to the war zone as vaccination against small-pox on a healthy body. All the members of the Harvard Unit that recently sailed for the American ambulance received the inoculations.

In this country various military organizations have adopted this important precautionary measure. Recently an enterprising manager of a well-known baseball club had all his players receive the inoculations. The obvious question arises--if this precautionary, measure is so valuable to armies and to a civilian population in times of war--why is it not a good thing in the ordinary walks of life? We know that typhoid fever occasionally occurs even under the best of conditions.

The University has been remarkably free from typhoid fever and has been spared the unfortunate experiences of certain other colleges with this disease. At the present time with the system of frequent routine examinations of the water, milk and food supplies of our dining halls any epidemic is practically out of the question, yet sporadic cases acquired from outside creep in. Students almost without exception, take some food and water from other places than their regular eating place. Furthermore, in the summer, which is the typhoid season, the student population scatters and with the characteristic activity of young men their excursions are often extensive and lead them into conditions of improper sanitation.

Even in the absence of typhoid fever, the so-called typhoid carriers may spread the disease. Under such circumstances anti-typhoid inoculations are a great protection. While normally there is but little typhoid fever about, no one can venture to predict the after effect of the war on the entrance of not only immigrants but also disease into the country. In Europe the immediate effect of the confusion incident to war has been an enormous increase of disease, including typhoid fever. Preventive inoculations have done much to control typhoid, but it may well be that after the war we may expect the introduction here of a certain amount of typhoid fever with other diseases.

The preventive inoculations are three in number, coming at intervals of seven to ten days and are practically painless. Occasionally within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after inoculation there is some disturbance of a mild nature. In the past students have been given the opportunity of receiving these inoculations but only a small number, mainly those who are going on prolonged trips or to the war zone, have availed themselves of this privilege. It is felt that this is an opportunity for protection against a serious disease that the undergraduate body should welcome. It can be done, free of charge, at Dr. Lee's office, Weld 4, in his office hours. It is a very simple matter, requiring at the most only a few minutes. It is hoped that a goodly number of students will avail themselves of this opportunity. ROGER I. LEE,   Professor of Hygiene.