"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...
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