Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-06
ANTI-TOXIC TREATMENT.
The New Protective Power Against
Infectious Diseases.

| From the New York Herald.
| Now we have new theory added to the
many regarding the anti-toxic treatment
OF infectious diseases. Heretofore antitoxin
| in itself was supposed to explain everything
so far as the counteraction Of a special pol
son was concerned. By and by 1t was dis
covered that immunity was really due to a
very complicated process in the blood
whereby numerous so-caIled anti-bodies
were produced which acted conformity in
overcoming the enemy. AS it was conceded
| that the poison. or toxin, given OFF by the
| bacteria did the principal mischief, the aim
was to neutralize these products by some
opposing agent that would make the indi-
vidual ultimately immune.
The theory of the treatment of diphtheria
is based on this assumption By inoculat-
ing a horse with the diphtheria virus In
doses of progressive strength the resist
ance of the animal to the poison finally be-
came such that he ceased to react against
the most viculent Dose Then his filtered
blood containing the developed antitoxin
was transferred to the diphtheria victim.
who was thus transformed into likewise
immunized condition.
But whatever way this was actually ac-
complished the practical fact remained that
the diphtheritic patients were ultimately
cured by the treatment. The discovery Of
the serum for the treatment of tetanus was
also based on the same principle.
The reason why some individuals escaped
contagion or affection was explained by the
assumption that the suitable antitoxins Of
the blood were already there in SUFFICIENT
were naturally immune
1t was also contended that these anti
bodies which combated the poisons in the
blood not only neutraliZed the posOns given
of ~ the various intruding bacteria, but
destroyed the bacteria themselves.
Besides this 1t was claimed by Metchnl-
kofr, the present illustrious chief Of the
Pasteur Institute of Paris. that the bacteria
were demolished by the special action Of the
white. or lymph. corpuscles of the blood
that is, actually devoured by them-and
was applied to them. He demonstrated this
action by various convincing experiments,
and his theory. so far as it goes, Is quite
universally accepted by the various scien-
tific observers here and abroad.
Now 1t comes about to explain why these
phagocytes do not attack the enemy by
some given rule. for In some cases 1t Is ad-
mitted that they are either insufficient in
number or do not act to any desirable pur-
pose.
OF course it was necessary to show the
why and wherefore. The theorists then
came to the front again and much arRu-
ment was expended. with the result of max
ing confusion worse COMPOUNDED Prof. Ehr-
Itch of Germany launched his chain theory
or infection and immunity, which, in
genious and logical it appears is far
from accounting for all the phenomena and
tended not little to add to their COM
| plexity.
But all this time the scientists have been
making due progress. At last they have
discovered an entirely new vital property
| In the blood. which they claim Is of the ut
most Importance In reconciiing all previous
difficulties In explaining tho protective
power Of immunity. This new substance Is
| opsonin. As Its name indicates, 1t is a
| caterer. In other words. 1t Is supposed by
its action on the bacteria to give them suf-
| ficient flavor or other preparation to tempt
| the phagocytes. or devouring white blood
| corpuscles. to do their full duty.
If by examining the blood 1t Is discovered
| that there is enough opsouin present to in
sure the destruction of maximum amount
| OF bacteria the individual is considered to
have good opsonic power. II not. the aim
| Is to develop such power by vaccinating the
infected Individual with the dead bacteria
| Of the special disease and thus increase his
| so-called opsonic protection against further
| inroads.
| So far limited experimentation is very
| encouraging. Allowing the theory to be cor
rect. the newly discovered opsonic power of
| the individual may lie at the bottom OF all
prevention and cure OF infectious diseases.