The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-19

containing this preparation arr first ster-
iGlzed in 3 specially prepared APPARATUS.
then placed IN an Incubator. where they
are kept at Ts1e temperature Of the body
for varying periods. usually about two
monks. At the END Of this time the
germs have secreted more or less poison,
or as IL il termed. ''toxsn." To obtain
this toxin IN pure state . Chamberlain
r@sssur fifer - used. which retains the
germs but permits the toxin TO pass
through. f. being soluble n the fluid.
When the animal has been subteesed 10
this treatment for sufficient teagth OF
rsnie. varying from four 20 SIX months.
blood ~ taken from the 3ugular veins.
collected In clean vessels set aside IN an
ice chest urtiE IL separates srto ca0t and
serum. Tire serum is then drawn OF into
sseriiized TASKS and enough earbciie acid
or other material added 50 prevent de-
composition II is then ready for use.
This contains the anti-soxin. the nature OF
which we do not know exarsiy az present,
though efforts have been made 20 analyze
e. IL seems to be tbs result OF an effort
On the part OF the system OF the horse TO
combat the poison injected
fkt-txtt<
theoretically this aati-toxIn. possessing
the power 20 neutralize the dIphtheria
poison In the lower animals. should be
effective 70 certain extent at least In
neUsraiizIng a like poison IN human be-
tBgs. Experiments made With 70 In the
large einldren's hospitals In Berlin ard
afterwards n Paris seem 10 have demon
ssrated concliisiyely that IL does so. pro-
vided II be used in the earliest stage OF
the disease and In sufficient amount Dur
Ing the past summer the death rate from
d'phfher1a for two months WAS about 50
per cent. OF the cases treated. while the
use Of the anti-toxin for the ensuing two
months was followed by a fall in the
death rate to a little less than fifteen per
cent The next month the supply of anti
toxin having been exhausted, the death
rate arose 10 more than fifty per cent.
A fresh supply of aati-toxln having been
received, the death rate again fell to
about fifteen per cent, and remained so
as hong as the antl-toxin was avasfab,e.
This In itself would seem 10 be conciu-
sise evidence, but as is well known to
those who have had much experience
with diphtberia epidemfes. the mortality
varies greatly at different times. The
question OF It's value can therefore not be.
absolutely settled before a sufficient
length OF time shall have elapsed to ex-
elude the influence OF this variation In
viruience Of the disease on statistics.
In addition to its effect on the disease.
u apparently has very great influence
In a protective sense. II a small auan-
uty OF the anti-toxin be anjected into a
guinea Pts an otherwise fatal dose of
diphtheria poison may be used on the an
imal without any perceptlbIe effect. Sta
tisflcs are now being gathered on this
Question which so far seem TO Indicate
fnat IT'S power In this respect Is fully as
great as was Theoretically expected. Out
of 100 children who had been exposed Z,
the disease In Berlin, and who were in
jeeted with the ansi-toxin, but one took
sick and that one had received some Of
the first antf-toxin made. which was only
l-igsf part as strong as that used ON the
other 80
Action In being taken at the presen,
time IN most OF the large cities looking
to the establishment OF laboratories for
the purpose of manufacturing this anti
toxin In order to supply 1t to those re-
curing Is use and who are unable to pur
chase ii.
III provision of some kind were made by
fne county there - no doubt the phvsl-
clans connected with the laboratory would
gladly donate sufficient time and knowl-
edge OF the subject TO prepare a sufficient
supply for use OF those who are unable
20 obtain IL from other sources tie cost
at present is very great and there ia not
nlnah prospect of II ever being very much
ofeSifer. ono dose for child Is now 81
ana an severe cases the expense woaid he
not ieSs than sl2 10 SIS for the remedy
alone.