NASTIN. 67 



In the treatment of tuberculosis, however, it has no beneficial effect. On the day after 

 inoculation, fever sets in, sputum increases in great quantities and contains large amounts 

 of tubercle bacilli. In leprosy, slight improvement has been noticed by its use. 



Metalnikoff has confirmed the above findings and further shown that the bee moth, 

 Galeria Molinella, attributes its very high immunity against tuberculosis to a strong wax 

 dissolving ferment possessed by it. It is probable, too, that inoculations of nastin there- 

 fore, produce antibodies which have the power of dissolving fat. In this way the capsule 

 of the tubercle bacillus is destroyed and the antigen is liberated to be absorbed. While 

 healthy animals can thus be immunized, tuberculous individuals would be indirectly 

 receiving a tuberculin injection, and its amount would depend upon the quantity of 

 tubercle substance suddenly liberated. It seems to the author that the more rational 

 way of conducting this therapy would be, to first obtain a high immunity against the 

 substance of the tubercle bacillus by injection with B.E., and then to follow this by treat- 

 ment with nastin. Such "fractional" treatment may prove an interesting new step in 

 tuberculin therapy. 



