1 62 The Story of the Bacteria 



All these operations are most carefully done 

 so that the antitoxic serum is pure and clean, 

 and it is introduced beneath the skin of the 

 patient with a small syringe made for the 

 purpose. 



This is a hasty outline of the story of 

 diphtheria-antitoxin-making. You see, the 

 cells of the horse make antitoxin to protect 

 themselves and him from the toxin which is 

 artificially introduced by his skilled attendant. 

 This antitoxin will neutralize diphtheria toxin 

 wherever it encounters it, whether in a test- 

 tube or in the body of a poisoned child facing 

 imminent death. The child is struggling to 

 make what antitoxin he can for himself. If 

 his cells can make it in plenty and make it 

 soon enough, he may recover unaided. But 

 the antitoxic serum of the horse is just as 

 good; it works quickly, it raises high the 

 chances of a successful issue. 



Since the introduction of diphtheria anti- 

 toxin the mortality from diphtheria has 

 been reduced quite 75 per cent. Just what 

 this means in the saving of life and in the 

 relief of suffering, only those can realize who 



