OCCURRENCE OF HEPATITIS IN RECENTLY TATTOOED SERVICE PERSONNEL

Abstract

I shall attempt to demonstrate in this paper a possible relationship between tattooing and hepatitis. A perusal of the literature up to June of 1949 failed to reveal any mention of the subject of tattooing in hepatitis, hence, a report at this time is all the more pertinent. In the absence of the actual reproduction of the disease in human volunteers with material from a suspected reservoir, positive proof can never be offered and all conclusions must be based on deduction, elimination and supposition. All the data were obtained from the medical service of Fort Clayton Hospital, Fort Clayton, Canal Zone, where enlisted patients of the three services were observed. Results of the study thus far on the subject of tattooing and hepatitis have been considered of sufficient weight already to warrant preventive measures against another possible mode of dissemination of hepatitis, just as hospital technic has been altered in