Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-21

Atuf iuIntSoat[InOLOpcOI
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while the blooi serum of an animal artiG-
ciaIly rendered immune can thus be trans
'rred. it ought also to be remembered
that in the use OF anti toxinc the aim is
not 50 much to destroy the bacteria but to
antagonize and neutralize the poison pro-
duced by them. The minimizing of an
animal is accomplished by the systematic
introduction into its blood of, first, an at
tenuated culture Of the diphthera bacilli
little Later, more yirulent culture, ana
finally, the toXine itself, until there has
been developed "a complete resistance to
The poison. :" As this tolerance increases
50 does the immunizing power Of the
blood by the production of ani-t0xinc. -
In order to determine the power Of the
blood serum rs an anti-toxic agent, it
becomes necessary to open Il vein in the
animal, from time to time. and draw a
small quantity of blood with which expert
mcnts are made. And when the anti
toxic power of this blood serum has
reached tt certain standard. it is then ready
to he used as an minimizing agent. For
this purpose the horse possesses several
advantages. He is not very susceptible
to the poison the introduction OF th2
toxinc causing but very little general or
local disturbance, and when immunized,
this animal furnishes large amount of
blood serum containing the anti-toxine,
and the serum when injected under the
human skin causes no irritation and is
absolutely harmless.
There are many interesting questions
which arise concerning this application of
the blood serum treatment, and pages
could be written upon the different ideas
and theories which have been advanced to
account for its action 1t is true that
when anti toxinc and toXine are mixed in
certain proportions in test tube, the
latter is destroyed, and practically that is
what happens when the anti-toxine is
introduced into a human body where the
toxine of diphtheria is present.
This treatment is not only applicable to
prevent but to cure; but it should be
remembered that the sooner after the be
ginning of an attack of diphtheria it is
used. the more certain it is to destroy the
effects Of the poison.
This plan has passed the experimental
stage and is now used by the most con
seryatiyc men in the profession, whose
opinion is almost unanimous that its
efficacy is undoubted Nor is the applica
ton of this plan limited to those affec
lions which are known to be of bacterial
origin, for hydrophobia, the bacterial
cause Of which is unknown, and certain
vegetable poisons, have been rendered in
nocuous by the immunizng power Of their
anti t0Xiucs.
But time will not permit me to enumer-
ate. the diseases over which victory has
been made possible by the introduction of
tbs method The endless possibilities
which this plan suggests, are, believe,
the beginning of the most brilliant era in
the science of medicine, the world has
ever known. and before which the brilliant
achievements of modern surgery Will pale
into insiguiiicance.
Nowhere in the record Of human indus
try does there exist work of richer or
grander promise than in this field opened
bv the wonderful researches and invalu-
able studies Of Pasteur and his followers,
who have contributed so much to the adj
vancemcnt of scientific medicine. The
past 80 years has seen great political
changes, wonderful discoveries in the
natural sciences, revisions of religious
faiths, and a general advance all along
the line. influencing the fate of nations
and modifying. in one way and another,
the progress of civilization. And medicine
has been no laggard in the onward march
of the world.
The three triumphal epochs in surgery
which have rendered operations painless,
bloodlcss and pusless, would alone be
enough to rcnder this period memorable;
but when arc added to these are the
promises that such maladies as diphtherlai
pneumonia, typhoid fever, tuberculosis
and kindred diseases shall be rendered IN
nocuous and practically driven from the
face of the earth. medicine gives to the
world the grandest of the browning glorles
of this last decade of the 10Th century
After the business of the meeting mad
been completed, the members adjourned
to the dining room with their ladies,
where Landlord .Judkins had an elegant
BANQUET spread for them. Halls orches-
ira furnished music during the evening
Those who sat down TO the banquet
were:
DR. and Mrs. f. C. Thayer, Waterville;
nr +. ]. Robinson and lady, Fairfield f;
DIR ana Mrs. J. i. HILL DR.. and Mrs. A.
Il Besscy. DR.. and Mrs J. II. Fortier, Dr.
and Mrs. d. p. Stowcll, DR.. and Mrs. Z.
w. Abbott, Watcrville; DR. and Mrs.
Chas Maybury. North Nassalhoro; Dr.
Il. ". Boyer and lady, Fairfield DE anu
Mrs. f. J. Taylor, DR. and Mrs. L, M Grifln'
Pittsileld Dr. aud Mrs. Daniel Dfiscoli'
sidney; DR. and Mrs. a. Il. shaw Ciln-
ton. DIR. and Mrs. C. A. Moulton, South
Albion. DR.. and Mrs. George Rowe, OAK
land. DR. and Mrs George Parker, VIM
tb,np: DIR. and Mis-. j. \. Merrill, Skow-
hogan.