The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-15
THE DIPH1HER1A CURE.
Explanation of Prof. Koch's Anti
Toxine Treatment, by DR.. Edison.
From the New York Herald


From the New York Herald.
Here is an explanation of the an ti-tox
inc treatment made by DR.. Edison:
The new anti-t.xtine treatment for diphthe-
ia which has cen worked out in the Koch
Institute for Infectious Diseases, in Berlin.
promises to be one Of the the most impor ant
ais. Overt OF modern medicine, and so ar as
can / o nudge from the data at hand will at
ford us the means for not only PROTECTING
persons from dlphtheria who have been ek.
posed to the disease, out also a certain means
for the cure of the disease when cases are
subjected to treatment in the early stages
One OF the most important and significant
features OF the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS upon the
absolutely innocuOus character of the remedy,
1t having apparently no influence, either ia
Vorable or unfaVorably in health or in dis
ease. excepting as to its power Of neutraliz-
ing the poison OF diphtheria, So while il has
enormous capacity forgood, its use is a so
lutely devoid of danger.
The treatment is based upon the followin Z
observations:
l. In d .phtnerta death, as a rule, is due 10
the poisoning by a chemical substance "a
toxlnel produced oy the diphtheria bacillus in
the throat and assorted ~ the system from
the throat
?. A certain degree Of immunity, which is
temporary ONLY. Is afforded by one attack OF
Ci ohtheria, and this immunity is the result of
an acquired tolerance to the "toxlAe." This
applies TO both animals and man
3. II large animals, such as horses, cows,
goats, etc, are lnoculated with minute, but
increasing quantities OF the "toxine' as de-
rlVed from cultures OF the diphtheria bacillus.
they become gradually tolerant to its poison
GUS action, ana Will withstand the iutroduc-
ton OF larger ana larger quantities through
the immunity which is acquired from smaller
doses
NEUTRALIzEs THE POISON.
4. The immunity thus produced the result
OF the uel elopment ia The blood 0. 5 ne sub.
WI "a 2
neutralliug the poison TO incl prod iced in
dlphlh eria, and in animals which have Ueen
hlghlv mnuniLed q. e., a laOle of with stand
ing very large doses OF the ''toxne' through
repeated ino,ulat ons OF doses minute bit
constantly Increasing in size, the blood, even
IN small quantities, acquires the power OF
neutralizins very large, even fatal, quaint
8. When animals have thus been immun-
lied, b GOD is Withdrawn from circulation in
quantities varying with the size Of the ami
lhal, and is emp o. ell through injections IN.
derneath the skin for the treatment OF cases
OF diphtheria, and the anti-toXine thus intro
duced neu' rallies the toXine absorbed into
the circulat on OF the patients from the
throat, ana thus renders them artihciallv in
sIs eptible 10 its action.
BY this method IL is apparently possible to
protect any persons from the contraction OF
diphtheria where they have teen exposed to
the disease and infected, II the symptoms
have not yet appeared, and also TO cure nearly
lOO per cent OF Eases where patients are
,reated In the periods OF the disease. I'm
fortunately. however, for the rapid and gen.
eral use OF this SUI stance for the treat
ment OF diphtherla, its production requires
the constant surveillance OF skilled and
trained men. A comparatively long period,
often four to six months. is necessary TO rem
der animals immune to the disease, so
that their blood can be employ ed for
the treatment, and finally, when thus rem
dered immune, they can furnish only sum
Client blood, as a rule. 70 treat a compare.
lively small number OF cases. Therefore
the production OF the substance must netes-
sarlly be costly. and Il can only be produced
IN sumcient quantities and be placed az the
disposal OF poor persons by muncipul and
state sanitary authorities
An inoculatian is supposed to carry
immunity from infection for at least two