The age-herald., 1902-01-05

The recent numerous deaths occurring in St. Louis from the administration of D!ptheria Anti-toxin manufactured by a municipal plant of that city, came as Q severe shock not only to the entire medi- cal profession. but to the whole civilized world. Until Investigations of the mat ter revealed these deaths, Aue to most in- comprehensible carelessness and negli- gence on the part of those in charge of the production of the anti-toxin and not to the principle of treatment, 1t appeared eifc known to the medical profession, (and that for one of most fatal and con tagious of all diseases) would fall into disrepute. When the facts became known alarm was turned to just indignation.
 The many deaths occurring in St. Louis, deplorable as they are are insignificant In numerical comparison to the many in- nocent victims that have since been laid away from the interference of parents in not allowing this perfectly harmless and reliable remedy to be used.
 The Theory of the Treatment.
 Serum theropy is based upon sound scientific principles. It has long since been shown by investigation that when certain poisons, especially of a bacterial origin known as toxins. are taken into the system there is an effort on the part of nature to counteract the effects of these poisons by elaborating in the blood an antidote or anti-toxin. Many disease germs produce these toxins or poisons in the syst em as a result of their propaga- tion, very much, as other harmless germs produce wine or vinegar as a result of theirs. when introduced into media suita- the anti-toxin in sufficient quantity in poison produced by the germs that cause death. the germ therefore producing death indirectly.
 If the system Is capable of elaborating the anti-toxin in sufficient quantity in the blood to counteract the effect of the toxin the patient recovers if not, death results, unless science assists nature. It has further been demonstrated that if certain disease germs or their toxins are introduced into the system of animals in small quantities, that their other effects are enumerated. and that if the quantity of toxin is gradually increased that the blood of the animal becomes so saturated with the anti-toxin that the animal be- comes immune and that the serum Of the blood of the immune animal has the prop erty of neutralizing, when infected into the human system that particular toxin. On
 
 Diptheria has been one of the most fatal as well as contagious diseases. The nor tality averages from 40 to 60 per cent and in many epidemics going as high as 80 per cent. Moreover it is the only con tagious disease that has increased rather than decreased in the last ten years. Since the introduction of Diptheria Anti toxin the mortality of this dreadful dis ease has been reduced to below per cent which means the salvation of millions of young lives throughout the civilized world.
 In view of these facts it Is all the more to be deplored that so valuable and harmless a remedy should suffer from the reckless carelessness of those in charge of a municipal plant. The careless ness of this establishment stands in amazing contrast to the method used by an American company who are now the largest manufacturers of this article in the world where every step in it's pro- duction Is carried on with every pre- caution that human ingenuity can de- wise. This establishment has sent out in the last seven years three millions of doses of Diptheria Anti-toxin without single accident or mishap resulting from it's use. The process of production of this establishment Is as follows;
 Process of Production.
 Each and every horse used for the pro- duction of anti-toxin (comprising several hundred) Is rigidly examined by a vetin- ary expert and selected for it's physical | perfection. The horses are kept in large. | perfectly lighted and we'll drained stables. | When an animal is selected for use. 1t