MENINGOCOCCUS MENINGITIS 233 



TYPHOID FEVER 



While antisera against typhoid fever have been proposed by a 

 number of different observers, their value seems to be so problemati- 

 cal that their discussion may very well be omitted at this place. 



PLAGUE 



Against plague also antisera have been produced, which seem to 

 be essentially of bactericidal nature (Yersin), though the preparation 

 of Lustig may have feeble antitoxic properties. Both the serum of 

 Lustig and that of Yersin have been tried out by the Plague Com- 

 mission of India, but the reports are not very encouraging. Whether 

 its use in combination with vaccination might not prove of greater 

 value than vaccination alone, and especially in persons who have 

 been actually exposed to the infection, future investigations will 

 have to decide, but would, a priori, seem likely. 



BACTERIOLYTIC-BACTERIOTROPIC IMMUNIZATION 



Among the bacteriolytic-bacteriotropic immune sera which find 

 employment in the treatment of maladies to which the human being 

 is subject, the most important are those which are directed against 

 infections with the pyogenic cocci, viz., the meningococcus, the 

 streptococcus, the pneumococcus, the gonococcus and the staphylo- 

 coccus. Of these the antimeningococcus serum is, however, practi- 

 cally the only one with which notable curative results have been 

 obtained. It will accordingly be considered in some detail, while the 

 remainder need not occupy our attention to any great degree. 



MENINGOCOCCUS MENINGITIS 



Attempts to produce an antiserum for the treatment of meningo- 

 coccus meningitis in the human being have notably been made by 

 Flexner and Jobbling, Kolle and Wassermann, and Jochmann, and 



