388 BIOLOGY OF PNEUMOCOCCUS 



a definite disadvantage, because with newer methods of refining serum 

 the allergic reaction is the principal source of danger in any type of 

 serotherapy. There is only slight experimental evidence and no clinical 

 evidence that the combined heterophile serum gives any immunity 

 against Type III and Group IV pneumococcic infections. There is the 

 same lack of evidence that the combined serum produces a greater im- 

 munity for Type I and II infections than the ordinary antipneumococ- 

 cus horse serum. The principal theoretical advantage of the combined 

 heterophile serum is that it could be used for all pneumococcic pneu- 

 monias, regardless of types, and the corollary of this that pneumococcus 

 typing would not be necessary. Serum having this advantage would be 

 highly desirable, but r because its superiority is unproved and because of 

 the probable increase in allergic reactions it is unfair and unwise to 

 recommend the combined heterophile serum for general distribution. 



The Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry approved and adopted 

 Plummer's report and emphasized the conclusion that, in the light 

 of present knowledge, recommendation of the combined heterophile 

 serum for general distribution is unwise and unwarranted. 



Phagocytosis 



The part played by leucocytes in checking the invasion of pneu- 

 mococci and in the destruction of cocci in the infected body was 

 apparently first suggested by Gamaleia 498 in 1888. The French 

 author, in a study of pneumonia patients, noted large phagocytes 

 packed with cocci in various stages of degeneration. The author 

 also reported an observation to the effect that sheep infected 

 intratracheally with diplococci obtained from infected cadavers, 

 on being sacrificed, showed many phagocytes containing the or- 

 ganisms. Gamaleia ventured the conjecture that pulmonary 

 phagocytes were a factor in restraining the spread of pneumococci 

 {Streptococcus lanceolatus Pasteuri) in the lung. Kruse and Pan- 

 sini (1891) 763 also noted phagocytosis in animals experimentally 

 infected with pneumococci, but held that the phenomenon was of 

 secondary importance to the bactericidal action of the serum. 



At the time, opinion was divided concerning the nature of the 



