, 1894-09-12

Iut OIdDlO OF uU1dVOIdDIC, III Soi1
disease, excepting as to its power OF neutra-
lizing the poison of diphtheria, so, while it
has enormous capacity for good, it's use IS
absolutely devoid Of danger. The treatment
is based upon the following observations:
"First-In diphtheria, death, as a rule, IS
due to the poisoning by a chemical substance
Ia toxine) produced by the diphthtria bach-
lus in the throat and absorbed by the system
from the throat.
'Second-A certain degree of immunity,
which is temporary only, is afforded by one
attack of diphtheria, and this immunity is
the result of an acquired tolerance to the
toxine. This applies to both animals ana
man.
Third-If large animals such as horses,
COWS, goats, ETC., are inocuiated WI h minute,
but increasing quantities OF the "toxlne as
derived from cultures of the diphtherla ba-
cillus, they become gradually tolerant to It's
poisonous action, and will Withstand the
Introduction of larger and larger quantities
through the immunity which is acquired from
smaller doses.
Fourth-The immunity thus produced ID the
result of the development in the blood OF some
. substance (anti-toxine), which has the power
of neutralizing the poison toxine) produced
in diphtheria, and ia animals which have been
highly immunized ii. g., capable Of with
standing very large doses of the toxine through
repeated NEGOTIATIONS of doses, minute, bat
constantly increasing in Bize) the blood, even
III small quantities, acquires the power of
neutrali2ing very large, eveu fatal, quantities
of the toxine.
Fifth-When animals have thus been I'M
munized, blood is withdrawn from the circu-
lation in quantities varying with the size OF
the animal, and is employed through injections
- - g. Aha 1noknna n y
cases Of diphtheria, and the anti-toXine thus
introdu sed neutralizes the toxine absorbed
into the circulation of the sick person from
the throat, and thus renders them artifcially
unSusceptible to its action. By this method
it is apparently possible to protect any person
from the contraction of diphtheria when he
has been exposed to the disease and infected
if the symptoms have not yet appeared, and
also to cure nearly 100 per cent OF cases where
patients are treated in the early periods OF
the disease. Unfortunately, however, for the
rapid and general use of this substance for
the treatment of diphtheria, its production
requires the constant surveillance OF skilled
and trained men;a comparatively long PERIOD
often four to six months, is necessary TO rom
der animals immune to the disease, so that
their blood can be employed for the treatment
and finally, when thus rendered immune, they
can furnlsn only SuI1ClenL olOou, as d IuIo' ~
treat a comparatively NAL number of cases.
Therefore. the production of the substance
must necessarily be costly, and it can only
be produced in sufficient quantities and bS
placed at the disposal of poor people by mu-
nicipal and State sanitary authOrities.
DR.. Edison thinks the anti-toxine discovery
the most important since the time of Jennery
and will ask that $50, 900 be appropriated
for the establishment of a depot for the
cultivation of the anti -tOxine.
Zone thousand people IN this city who are
alive today and who will be dead in one year
from diphtheria would be alive then if the
ant. toxine treatment could be practised,"
said Dir. Edison, 'and $50 per life is surely
not a large amount"
When DR.. Edison finished his interesting
talk, DR.. Biggs gave ali exhibition Of the means
employed for the discovery of the ~.diphtherl-
tic bacilli and their culture for the purpose OF
producing the anti-toxine
The process as described by the doctor is,
in short as follows Bacilli are taken from q
patient suffering from diphtheria, and after
these have been proven of the genuine
diphtheria species they aresput away in broth
and after six weeks a new crop has formed.
Asmall numbse of tho bacilli are injected
under the skin of the animal which is TO be
rendered immune. The swelling produced
.. " L. l.. offnr n ahn fsna0