THE MANUFACTURE AND USE OF SERA AND VACCINES. 135 



no special importance to the pharmacist. Furthermore, manufacturers do 

 not, as a rule, disclose full details of manufacture. 



6. Antipneumococcic Serum. 



This serum is obtained from horses immunized against the Pneumococcus 

 and is employed in the treatment of pneumonia and other infectious disease 

 in which this germ is present. The dose is about 10 c.c. repeated several 

 times a day, given hypodermically. The serum must be kept in a cool dark 

 place. When a tube is opened the contents should be used within twenty- 

 four hours, sealed temporarily with sealing wax, paraffin or sterile wadding. 

 This serum has not proven very satisfactory, though it is safe and worthy a 

 trial. (See pneumonia.) 



7. Antimeningococcic Serum. 



Antimeningococcic serum is obtained from horses which have been 

 immunized with cultures of Diplococcus meningitidis intracellularis, begin- 

 ning with dead cultures, then using living cultures and finally with autolysate. 

 Its use is said to have met with considerable success in the treatment of 

 cerebro-spinal meningitis, when injected into the spinal canal in doses of 10 

 c.c., repeated daily. The serum acts as an antitoxin, it increases phagocytosis 

 and also acts as a bactericide. It should be used early in the course of the 

 disease. 



8. Yersin's Serum (Antiplague Serum). 



Yersin's serum is made by injecting horses, first with dead plague 

 bacillus cultures (Bacillus pestis) and finally with the living organisms. It 

 has been used with varying success in plague epidemics. Large doses (30 to 

 50 c.c.) should be administered (hypodermically) early in the course of the 

 disease. Its chief value is, however, prophylactic. The liquid form of the 

 serum may also be used for intravenous injection. The dry serum is said 

 to keep indefinitely and must be dissolved before using. 



9. Bacterins. 



The bacterins are still, so to speak, on trial. Some have given excellent 

 results while others are wholly unsatisfactory. The preference appears to 

 be for autogenous bacterins. The majority of physicians are, however, 

 compelled to use the so-called stock bacterins, or the manufactured bac- 

 terins ready for use, for the reason that few physicians have the time or 



