264 PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION 



ANTIGONOCOCCUS SERUM. 



Of late an antigonococcus serum also has been placed upon the 

 market, for which good results have been claimed. Torrey's serum 

 is prepared by immunizing sheep with gradually increasing doses of 

 dead, and later, of living cultures of virulent strains, and is mar- 

 keted in 2 c.c. ampoules, which amount represents a single dose. 

 Repeated injections are made at intervals of one, two, three, or 

 four days, according to the requirements of the individual case. Its 

 use is advocated in chronic conditions produced by gonococcic 

 infection, as in those arising from a direct extension of the primary 

 infection into organs like the prostate, epididymis, testicles, bladder, 

 and Fallopian tubes, as also in cases of gonococcus arthritis, iritis, 

 endocarditis, pleuritis, and meningitis. As yet not enough is known 

 of the effect of the injection upon the maladies in question to warrant 

 any definite statements. 



In the booklet on the subject which has been issued by the manu- 

 factuerers the statement is made that within a year 10,000 doses of 

 the serum had been sent out for experimental purposes, and that of 

 the cases reported upon 58 per cent, showed decided benefit, and 

 that in 17 per cent, only the results had not been favorable. Future 

 investigations here also are needed to establish the actual status of 

 the treatment, which, a priori, of course, would seem logical, and 

 especially so when combined with corresponding vaccination. 



AUTOSERUM THERAPY. 



A number of investigators have suggested the administration 

 of the patient's own serum under various pathological conditions 

 upon grounds, it must be admitted, which in some cases seem rather 

 lacking in force. Gilbert and Fede thus recommend the subcutaneous 

 injection of small quantities (1 to 2 c.c.) of the patient's own exu- 

 date in the treatment of tubercular peritonitis and pleurisy, and 

 claim that the absorption of the exudate is thus greatly hastened. 

 Similar results have been reported by Senator and Schniitgen. 

 Modinos reports that the injection of moderate doses (about 8 c.c.) 

 of the patient's own serum is of beneficial influence upon the course 

 of various acute infectious diseases, and cites specific cases of influ- 

 enza, typhoid, and Malta fever. Others have reported favorable 



