The morning call., 1894-11-09
NEW CURE FOR DIPHTHERIA.

The Health Officer lately announced
that he had received supply of the new
remedy for diphthera, VITA which be was
prepared to experiment upon patients.
Phials of the remedy have been received
by hospital authorities in other American
cities, so that in a short time we shall be
in position TO decide whether the rem
edy is as valuable and as reliable as it has
been represented.
In this case it is not derived from the
bacteria themselves, but from the fluid in
which they are generated. Ii appears
that cases OF diphtheria occur in which
there are no bacteria, aud, on the other
hand, bacteria have been found In per-
sons who are perfectly well and show no
,igns OF diphtheria. The malignant
action of the bacteria is only displayed
when they are found 10 a fluid which is
favorable to that action. And experiment
has proven that that fluid is the serum,
or the watery part of the blood. The new
remedy is the incubation of the diph-
theritic patient with serum which is In
preguated with the diphtheria poison. 1t
is now obtained from horses. They are
inoculated with diphtherilic poison in
gradually increased doses, and are
weighed after each injection. By arrest
ing the injections for a time and feeding
the animal well the loss of weight is re-
gained and the horse becomes gradually
capable of assimlating large doses of the
virus. At this stage its blood is iit for use.
A quantity is drawn off and the serum
skinned for use on human bel Igs. At
present one injection is said to be suffi-
cient TO cure an ordinary case Of diph-
liberia. The dose Is worth at this time
81 %; but If it is found to answer, the
prod uction may be increased till it is
within the reach of all persons.
This therapeutic process is not new,
For twenty years trituraion of the
diphtheTitic membrane, embracing the
bacteria and the substance in which they
live. has been employed in the homeo-
pathic school. and the large number Of
cures of which that school boasts have
been often due to the exhibition Of this
remedy. 1t is exactly in line with homeo-
pathic doctrine. The introduction of the
diphtheritic bacillus in minute dose into
the blood of healthy patient will produce
in reduced degree the symptoms of ordI-
nary diphtheria; hence the infinitesimal
exhibition of the same subs stance ought to
Cul6 pdIlcub WIZ 10 dttdckeu. lne
serum used by DR.. Behring is an improve
ment, scientifically, upon the triturati6n o.
the homeopaths. But the principle is the
same.
1t will be safe to expect reports from
hospital physicians and general practi-
TONERS to the effect that they have tried
the new remedy and found it without
effect But people should not lose faith in
ii on that account. When a drug is ex-
hibted in such minute doses as ten cubic
centlmeters very slight adulteration will
neutralize its efficacy. The object of the
subcutaneous injection may be defeated by
its careless administration. And again,
DR.. BehriDg does not claim that his RENE
DIV will cure all cases of diphtheria. When
the disease has made such progress that
the vital organs are attacked and the blood
is saturated with the virus. the patient is
generally hey ond the reach of medicine.
Undeserved reproach was cast upon
koch's remedy for con assumption by the i'm
perfect trials it received. 1t was certainly
failure in that it did not accomplish the
promised results In a Majority of the cases
in which IL was employed. But it really
had not progressed beyon the tentative
stage. DIR. Koch is now engaged in en-
deavorlng to perfect IL. and there is every
reason to hope that he is on the right track.
The therapeutics of the future will he
based on the principle Of fighting fire with
fire-similia similibus-but it must be ex
pected that many remedies will be prenia.
turely announced and many discoveries
proclaimed when they are only in the ex-
detrimental stage and when much remains
TO be done to raise them to the rank Of
scientific truths.