26+ DISEASE CONTROL 



lander bacillus and of C. difhtheriae gradually gave a predominance of 

 the former on repeated transfer} the morphology of the diphtheria 

 organism changed toward a more homogeneous state on staining. The 

 use of culture filtrates gave no evidence that the diphtheria toxin was 

 neutralized by the antagonist, either in vivo or in vitro; however, when 

 the two organisms were grown together no toxin was formed, nor was 

 toxin produced when the filtrate of the culture of the antagonist was 

 used to grow C. difhtheriae. The therapeutic use of filtrates was, there- 

 fore, suggested. Lactic acid bacteria were also employed successfully 

 (678) in the treatment of diphtheria. 



By allowing an antagonist to act upon a disease-producing organism 

 that has previously been heated to 56° C, a hydrolyzate was obtained 

 which could be employed as a vaccine. Bezangon (54) treated typhoid 

 sufferers with a culture of E. tyfhosa lysed by means of Ps. aeruginosa. 

 Gratia (354) said, however, that this type of hydrolyzate brings about 

 heat production, but the use of a preparation obtained by means of an 

 actinomyces, designated as a mycolysate, does not. The use of living 

 proteolytic bacteria (neocolysin) for treatment of chronic purulent con- 

 ditions, such as osteomyelitis, gave favorable results} the bacteria were 

 believed to continue growing as long as there was dead tissue available 

 (98). 



Besredka (52) used culture filtrates of bacteria for the treatment of 

 various diseases in man. A filtrate of the anthrax organism was em- 

 ployed for dressings or for intracutaneous injections} the results were 

 at least as good as those obtained with the bacterial vaccine. Staphy- 

 lococci and streptococci were also utilized for similar purposes. Besredka 

 believed that a substance, designated as antivirus, was secreted by the 

 bacteria into the filtrate. This was said to check further growth of the 

 bacteria. The mode of action of the antivirus was considered to be dif- 

 ferent from that of antibodies : the first affects the cells locally by stimu- 

 lating their resistance} the second acts upon the organism as, a whole 

 and, through it, against the infecting agents. Antivirus was prepared by 

 allowing bacteria to grow in ordinary bouillon for a long time, until the 

 medium became unfavorable for further development of the bacteria. 

 Staphylococcus antivirus prevented the growth of the staphylococcus or- 

 ganism in a medium in which it had grown previously. In the presence 



