Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-19
USE OF ANTI-TOXINE.
How 1t is Obtained and How 1t "a
Administered.

DR.. II. d. Deale, Maryland Medical Journal.
The credit of discovering this anti-toxine
belongs to Dr. Behring of Berlin. AS we
know, the diphtheria bacillus secretes q
poison that is the cause Of the great NOR
tality in this disease. DR.. Behring, In
studying this poison, injected large Quanti-
ties into horse, and he found that the
animal could absorb great quantities of the
poison without injury. He later found that
the serum of the blood of the horse so in
oculated contained a counter poison, and 1t
is this that DR.. RouX Of Paris has used in
the treatment of diphtheria.
In Germany it is known as Behring's
remedy for diphtheria and Group: In
France as Roux's anti-diphtneritic serum.
This toxine is formed when the virulent
bacillus is grown in broth; after three or
four weeks it is sufficiently rich in toxins
to be used. This is inoculated under the
skin of horses in good health, and by re-
peated doses over period of two or three
months the horse is brought to condi-
ton in which its serum possesses very high
anti-toNic properties.
The efficacy of the serum is tested before
the animal is bled. The injections for pa
tients are made into the chest, back or
side the amount of the injection varying
with the age, duration and severity Of the
disease.
d
Pravaz or kochs syringe, previously thor
oughly steriliZed. The dose for rendering
those exposed immune is 10 IL minimS
Il c.c) for those over three years of age;
for younger children half that amount.
For the cure of the disease during the first
two or three days under two years is 81 to
46 minims G. to ) c.c): from TWO to ten
years. II fluid drachms % c.c); over ten
years. IL fluid drachms 90 c.c). After
the third day, in severe cases, larger doses
may be given, and if the disease is not
amelorated by the first dose, second may
be given in twelve hours. No unpleasant
symptoms follow the injection, ana rapid
improvement in both the local and consu-
IT, 'ional symptoms are observed.
The results from this form of treatment
are truly marvellous. In the Chiidren's
Hospital of Paris, of 500 cases of true
diphthera SO treated, only IS died, or 70
per cent; in the same hospital in previous
years the mortality was from 80 to 60 per
cent.
In the Urban Hospital, Berlin. 60 children
were so treated in two months. OF these
AZ recovered, a mortality of 30 per cent;
the mortality in previous years was about
30 per cent.
In the Elizabeth Hospital. Berlin. in
three months, 81 cases were treated, in 80
of which tracheotcmy was performed; %
recovered, or IL per cent mortality. In
the Moabit Hospital, Berlin, in three
months, A cases. with IL deaths. or 80 per
cent.
Another series of 80 cases. with deaths,
or per cent.
With early recognition of the disease and
with prompt treatment, the mortality Will
undoubtedly be very much lowered. AS to
producing immunity to well but exposed
persons, Aronson reports that in 100 cases
exposed to the disease to whom injections
We're given only one contracted the disease.
Many more reports of its successes could
be cited, but these are sufficient to give
the general results.