The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-11-06
RACTERIOLnGY.
AppStdd to pGphUnerls by Prof. Balrlns.
(Science.)

The new treatment Of diphtherla by
means OF a%ntitoxine serum has occupied
Tho attention of the medical world for
about a year and a Glzcf. It has been
the leading subject for discussion at asso-
Citations, at congresses, at the May meet
Ing OF 1.-The American Medical Association,
and at the late meeting of the British
Medical Association.
All agree THAT II possesScs both curative
and p~ropaylactic actions, the degree OF
SUCCESS aione being discussed. The sue
cess OF mis- remedy In this particular
disease has opened up new fields for re-
search In the same line in the treat nent
Of other germIlcidai diseases. A reviey
Of the uraltive action and the mode of
preparation OF the serum will be timely.
especiaiiy so as 1t is claimed that this
treatment has already reduced the NOR
tally of ibhis dread disease to less chan
one4half.
The cardinal principal Upon which its
curative action depends Is contained in
the fact that the blood possesses In its
ncTmal constituents a certain germicidal.
or disease killing, action due to some
constituent not yet clearly defined. This
constituent destroys micro-organisms. or
disease germs, that find their way. from
Whatever source, into the animal econ
omy. The battle wages in every germi-
cida1 disease for a longer or shorter dime.
till either the blood or the mlcro-organ-
kmis and their products predominant.
For instance, in typhoid fever this battle
RACES for 81 days. II the blood is vic
eorfous In the struggle, this germicidaa
or ad~tsease-killing constituent IL enor-
mousiy increased, and consequently pro-
duces an immunity in that particular dts-
ease I.nfI n has dioo nraanoa - a.
blood, wIlicn In different diseases varies
greatly-for instance, smallpox, after sue
cessful vaccination for seven years or
more, or In dipCltheria six or eight
months. In consideration of this fact
the question arose, How can we produce
an artificial immunity In an animal and
make a practical application thereof?
The action OF antltoNtne, then, 1s phyefo-
logical and natural, In that II Is simply
transmitting Its accumulated germicidaI
constituents from the animal in which II
HAS been artiacially generated to she
person suffering from the disease, and
the disease is cured by the serum con.
tanning this constituent acting upon and
destroying the disease organisms In the
system into which 1t has been introduced.
The germacide or antitoxine serum Is
produced In this way: A healthy ami
NAL, known to be susceptible to the dis
ease. ts selected, either a goat, q sheep
or a horse. He Is treated with a rub
cutaneous Injection of a culture media
containing diphtheria bacllli. TThds injec-
ton, wfhch IS called the primary, Is in
an a~ttenuated form, as tine germs are
subjected to IS degrees Cent. OF neat for
Ave minutes, thus rendering them lees
vlrulent. In three days he is again
treated to a stronger Injection in a SINH
lar way, and SO on for several months,
until the animal Is no longer affected
by the injections OF the most vlrulent
cultures, or until complete immunity has
been produced.
Blood lis now drawn from the animal
under the s~trlctest anttseptic precautions,
as the slightest contamination destroys
the efficacy OF the germicdde. The blood
is Then allowed to separate into serum
and cIot; the serum Is then drawn of
under the same strict precautions and
placed in tubes for use.
This serum contains The antitoxine or
g~ermacldal constituent already mentioned,
and possesses the power OF destroying
the dlphtherfa bacilll when introduced
into the circulation of "a diphtheria pa
tient.
A specially constructed hypodermic
syringe is used; the serum Is injected
under the skin of hhe patient, n the
strdctest antiseptlc precautions are OBJ
served. The earlier in the disease the
remedy Is used the more favorable is the
~prognosls. Healthy individuals who have
been exposed to the disease should also
resort to 1.-THE treatment. as 1t Ia claimed
that temporary immunity may be Sc
cured thereby.
We ARE indebted to Behring, professor
of hygiene i Halle. for this practical
application OF tine science of bacteri-
ology. For the science of bacteriology
itself we are indebted TO the great Pas
teur, who within the last few weeks has
been called to his final reward.