The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-18
THE ANTI-TOXINE REMEDY.

If anti-toxine. the new remedy for
diphtheTia, possesses half Of the virtues
claimed for it. nd we have no reason to
believe that its merits are in the least
exaggerated, it is indeed a great boon
to suffering humanity. Dphtheria is
terrible menace to human existence, and
any well-recommended cure for "A disease
which has 80 often defed medical skill
should be welcomed not only by the
health authorities in this country but by
people Of every class and cCT dition in
life In view of the many humbugs forced
upon the people, the medical authorities
will very properly act with elaboration.
yet the results of the practical tests OF
ant-toxine in Paris, as well as in New
York city, should remove all doubts in the
minds even of medical skeptics. The New
York Herald which, by the way. is max
ing an earn est effort 10 introduce the rem
edy in this country. says that among the
latest results of the treatment in Paris
the weekly mortality from diphtheria in
that city decreased from siXty-eight
deaths 10 twenty-nine, and in the last
week of September there were only two
diphtheria cases in all Paris-a record
which stands alone" After showing that
the mortality from diphtheria in Berlin
was reduced from 1915 TO II per cent by
the use of anti-toxine. the Herald says:
The experiments with anti-toxine In
this country are equally promising. Dr.
A. Campbell White, the resident phy-
sician at willard Parker Hospital IN this
city. has published the results Of the
new treatment In a series OF dlphtherid
k.f ffagf
OF these cases in which death occurred
from other causes than the diphtnerla,
he fnds that we have one death In SIX
teen or a mortality OF 81 per cent. IN
cases selected for their severity. IN
GLIDING all deaths, the laryngeal cases
showed a mortality OF 2S.5 per cent. as
opposed TO the regular mortality OF over
so per cent, and the other cases give a
mortality of 1876 per cent. The so mucn
dreaded diphtheritic false-membrane dis
appeared on the average on the ninth day,
which is early In cases so severe. AS
resume OF cases treated in both foreign
and American hospitals. Dr. White says
I've md. then. of 4s6 children dnclud-
ing operative cases. treated for true diph-
liberia by various observers win direrent
strengths OF anti-toxine solutions ZIG have
died or a mortality OF 3.S per cent, in
a class OF cases in which about % per
cent always die
"Dr. Augustus Caille. OF the New York
pital, also reports in the Medico-Surgical
bulletin seven out OF nine cases of true
diphtheria OF virulent type cured by
anti-toXire."
There are many obstacles TO be sur
mounted in order to accomplish general
use of the remedy In this country. but
they can and must be overcome. The
great difficulty lies in procuring the rem
edy. 1t cannot be imported, for Europe
fa~none to spare, consequently 1t must
be manufactured here. While IL is ex-
pensive TO produce. the money should be
raised. The New York Herald has start
ed popular subscription to enable the
Board OF Health Of New York to con.
tinue the work already begun In the d.
rection of applying the remedy extensive
ly A larg. fund has been raised, and
the success Of the move seems assured.
The health authorities Of this city