574 ABSTRACTS 



tions are entirely eliminated, and anaphylactic pseudopositive reac- 

 tions are largely eliminated. 



As controlled by the Schick technic complete uniformity resulted, 

 showing that the amount of toxin introduced was sufficiently accurate 

 to secure reliable results. — G. H. S. 



Diphtheria Immunity — Natural, Active and Passive. Its Determina- 

 tion hy the Schick Test. W. H. Park and A. Zingher. (Amer. 

 Jour, of Pub. Health, 1916, 6, 431^45.) 



The test is of great rehability when properly made. In a certain 

 proportion of individuals a pseudo-reaction is seen but this can usually 

 be distinguished clinically from the true reaction. The test possesses 

 great value in determining clinically the immunization of susceptible 

 individuals, and in clearing up the diagnosis of clinically doubtful cases 

 of diphtheria. The Schick reaction has added further proof to the 

 clinical and experimental observations that very toxic cases of diph- 

 theria do better when given an early intravenous injection of antitoxin 

 than when it is administered in any other way. The results obtained 

 with the test in families seem to indicate that besides infection with 

 virulent diphtheria bacilh, other factors, possibly hereditary in nature 

 are concerned in the production of natural immunity to diphtheria. 

 The Schick reaction can be apphed with advantage in testing the pa- 

 tients, resident staff and nurses of contagious disease hospitals. By its 

 use a considerable saving can be effected in antitoxin during diphtheria 

 outbreaks. A more widespread use of an active immunization with 

 mixtures of diphtheria toxin and antitoxin would help to lessen the 

 disease. — D. G. 



Immunity in Tuberculosis. G. A. Webb. (Jour, of Laboratory and 



Clinical Medicine, 1916, 1, 414-^27.) 



A comprehensive resume of work upon immunity in tuberculosis. 



Attempts of the author to immunize guinea-pigs with living tubercle 

 bacilli were successful when gradually increasing numbers of individ- 

 uals of an old human culture were used, but unsuccessful with re- 

 cently isolated cultures. 



Experiments with monkeys inoculated with gradually increasing 

 doses of a human culture produced in some animals a resistance to 

 10,000 times the lethal dose. Such a resistance could not be con- 

 stantly produced, however. Lack of success with monkeys was prob- 

 ably due to excessive virulence of the culture. 



Children inoculated five years ago with a culture of which the mini- 

 mal lethal dose for a guinea-pig was 125 baciUi are still healthy and 

 do not respond to the von Pirquet test. 



The author is convinced that infection takes place, usually in child- 

 hood, with very small numbers of bacilli. If an immunity in child- 

 hood could be raised to even a slight degree, it would probably be pos- 

 sible to vaccinate successfully against tuberculosis. — M. W. C. 



