The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-01-23
III. e-ea, p,rsts.,,, Cure.

Surgeon J. J. kinyoun, OF the United
States Marine Hospital Service, who was
the representative OF this Government at
the recent international Medical Con-
gress in Paris, after which he visited all
the principal hospitals and medical labor
atories in France and Germany, making
a thorough study of the anti-toxine treat
ment. delivered an address before the
medical fraternity of Washington, in
which he described the process Of inocu-
lation as follows:
A sculture'' of the diphtheria bacillus
was taken from the throat of child and
put into beef bullion, in which it grew,
and with some of this material horse
was inoculated. BY a gradual course of
treatment the animal was Injured 10 the
poison, its system giving off into the
blood sufficient of the anti-toxine To neu-
tralize the effects of all the diphtheretic
poison that was given it. There in its
blood, or at least its serum, drawn of in
to sterilized tubes, was the "anti-toxiho'
of the new diphtheria treatment.
MARVELLOUS EFFECTs OF THE SERUM.
DR.. Kinyoun said that while the serum
would not work miracles. its effects were
little short of marvellous. In cases of
plain, unc0mplicated diphtheria the eff
feet of the anti-toxine was almost assured
and the mortality nil. By far the greater
number OF cases, however, were compli-
Gated, and in these, where given in time,
the mortality was reduced from forty per
| cent. to less than twenty per cent.
Since the discovery Of the diphtheria
bacillus the absolute diagnosis Of the dis
ease by the microscope was possible, the
germ being as distinctive as that of tuber-
culosis.
The speaker said that 9S per cent. of the
eases of so-called membraneous Group
were real diphtheria. No one by sn-
perficial examination can tell the two dis
eases apart, except in the last stages,
where the toxine of diphtheria has caused
the dissolution OF the membranes to take
place, but for the sake of the patient, of
the immediate family, and of the COM
manity, every physician ought TO resort
at once 20 the microscope to settle the
question in any suspicious case.
on A PAR WITH sMALL-PoX VAGINA
TION.
The efficacy Of the serum treatment, the
speaker said, had been established be
yond question, and with the aid OF this
treatment to combat the disease, and
through disinfection afterwards, there
was no reason why the disease should not
be stamped out entirely.
There was 10 question that the diseov-
cry Of the anti-toxinc treatment was on 2
par with that OF smallpox vaccination,
but il must be scientifically handled by
men who understand the nature Of the
disease and its remedy, and serum of a
standard strength must he used or the
best results canuo. be expected.
GOVERNMENT CONTROL IaIPoRTAST.
DIR. Kinyoun said he was in favor Of
Governmental or municipal control, or at
least supervision, Of the manufacture Of
the anli-toxine, TO. insure its being Of
standard quality. The fact that Germany
was advancing the price Of the prepara-
ton by dollar at time, in spite Of the
small cost OF production, was enough 70
show that there was mint of money III
it for Americans. \ short time woulG
see many brands Of the preparation on
the market, and there ought 10 be some
provision for maintaining them of a uni
form strength and excellence.
As to the keeping of the serum, the
Germans claim that il VIII keep indefi-
nitely. The French say that ii dstorio-
rates after eight months, but DR.. kinyoun
thought that it began to change percep..-
bly, in much less time than that, 50 that
the government supervision sh0ali in
clude date of manufacture as well IS
strength.