WRIGHT'S VACCINE TREATMENT. 191 



ever been noted; while general improvement, as increase in weight, diminu- 

 tion in temperature and cessation of cough, are constantly observed. It 

 would be illogical to neglect these clinical data and give preference to the 

 hypothetical action of opsonins as a guide in treatment. 



It seems that Wright himself does not insist as strongly as before upon 

 the determination of the opsonic index. One of his assistants, Matthews, 

 has recently made the statement that in a great number of cases the deter- 

 mination of the opsonic index is entirely out of the question. If the choice 

 between injections without estimation of said index and entire omission of 

 inoculation should arise, therapeutic inoculation without the index is by all 

 means indicated. Although it is almost a general tendency at present to 

 omit the opsonic index in the treatment of staphylococcus infections, this 

 may at times also hold good in tubercle, gonococcus and streptococcus 

 infections as well as in prophylactic typhoid inoculations. 



