PRODUCTION OF ANTIPNEUMOCOCCIC SERUM 545 



pyrexia. Unconcentrated serum, however, was quite as effective as 

 concentrated serum if the same number of units were used. That 

 the concentrated product is effective therapeutically has been am- 

 ply demonstrated, and confirmatory data have been summarized by 

 Lord and Heffron (1936). 827 



AVIAN SERUM 



The therapeutic use of antipneumococcic serum produced by re- 

 peated injections of Brahma cockerels with virulent pneumococci 

 has been reported by Kyes (1918). 76T Severe constitutional reac- 

 tions followed the administration of the serum to human beings. 

 Although later publications by Kyes and Carey (1927, 1929) 768 " 9 

 described methods for eliminating the factors believed to be re- 

 sponsible for the reactions, fowl serum has not been generally ac- 

 cepted for the treatment of lobar pneumonia. The small size of the 

 birds used, resulting in many technical disadvantages, is an objec- 

 tion which, in the opinion of the authors of this volume, would dis- 

 courage its routine use. 



POLYVALENT SERUM 



Prior to the separation of pneumococci into specific serological 

 types, it was customary to prepare antiserums against individual 

 strains. The serums were tested serologically against cultures from 

 heterologous sources. Neufeld and Haendel 991 found that some of 

 the earlier, so-called polyvalent serums reacted with only one type 

 of Pneumococcus. Cole 249 reported that a univalent serum used by 

 himself and colleagues protected animals against only 40 per cent 

 of the cultures tested. Cole and Moore 268 emphasized the impor- 

 tance of using pneumococci of strict immunological specificity for 

 immunization and, inasmuch as at the time the only serum of 

 proved therapeutic value was for Type I, monovalent serum was 

 recommended. In the same year, 1917, Avery and his associates 

 advised against the routine manufacture of polyvalent antipneu- 

 mococcic serums. 



