DECLINE OF PNEUMONIA FATALITIES 



The general downward trend of fatalities from pneumonia was accelerated in the 

 thirties by the development of special serum "types", and in ^the early forties by the 

 introduction of sulfa drugs 



rapidly. In the meantime, pneumonia, while still a serious disease, is coming 

 to be a less prominent cause of death. 



Anaphylaxis In the early days of antitoxin the treatment usually re- 

 sulted in almost miraculous cures. But occasionally a patient would collapse 

 and die after the injection of the immune horse serum. This baffling re- 

 action was found later to result not from the antitoxin but from a horse 

 protein to which some people are sensitive. Furthermore, if horse serum is 

 used in vaccinating against one disease, and later a horse serum is used in 

 vaccinating against another disease, the patient is much more likely to show 

 this violent reaction, or anaphylaxis. By using a sensitivity-test for horse 

 serum the doctor can prevent such a reaction. Various serums and vaccines 

 are now prepared in goats, rabbits, and some other animals, as well as in 

 horses. 



243 



