SERUM ANTIDIPHTHERICUM SICCUM 463, 



precipitate as well as in the filtrate from the original precipitation. The 

 saturated sodium chloride solution of the antitoxic proteins is submitted 

 to dialysis to remove the salts and then sufficient sodium chloride is added 

 to make an 0.8 per cent, solution. It is a transparent or slightly opales- 

 cent liquid, sometimes with a slight granular or ropy sediment and may 

 be more or less viscous. Its action and uses are the same as those of 

 diphtheria antitoxin, unconcentrated. 



SERUM ANTIDIPHTHERICUM SICCUM, U.S.P. The dried 

 serum occurs either in the form of orange or yellowish flakes or small 

 lumps, or as a yellowish-white powder, without odor. The serum is readily 

 soluble in nine parts of distilled water, the solution being opalescent and 

 slightly viscous. For use the serum must be dissolved in recently boiled and 

 cooled distilled water, preferably in the original container and under the 

 most rigid aseptic conditions. Dried Antidiphtheric serum if kept as 

 directed does not lose in potency, as does the liquid serum. 



The serum is prepared from diphtheria antitoxin, concentrated or 

 unconcentrated, by aseptic evaporation. The dried antitoxin preserves 

 its potency much better than that in a liquid state, but is more inconvenient 

 to use on account of the difficulty of getting it back into solution. It 

 should be dissolved in about ten times its volume of water to restore the 

 original bulk. Its uses are the same as those of diphtheria antitoxin, 

 unconcentrated. 



SERUM ANTITETANICUM, U.S.P. A yellowish or yellowish-brown 

 transparent or slightly turbid liquid with sometimes a slight granular 

 deposit; odorless, or having an odor due to the presence of the antiseptic 

 used as a preservative. It gradually loses its potency, the loss being 

 greater at higher than at lower temperatures. The serum must come from 

 healthy animals, must be sterile, must be free from toxins or other bac- 

 terial products, and must not contain an excessive amount of preservative 

 (not more than 0.5 per cent, of phenol nor 0.4 per cent, of cresol, when 

 either of these is used), and the total solids must not exceed 20 per cent. 

 Only such sera may be sold or dispensed as have been prepared and prop- 

 agated in establishments licensed by the Secretary of the Treasury of 

 the United States. The United States law requires that each container 

 of serum sold or dispensed by licensed establishments shall bear upon the 

 label, in addition to the name of the serum, the name, address arid license 

 number of the manufacturer and the date beyond which the contents 

 cannot be expected to yield its specific results. The label must also con- 

 tain the laboratory number of the serum, the name and the percentage 

 by volume of the antiseptic (if any) used and the total number of antitoxic 

 units claimed for the contents of the container. The standard of strength, 

 expressed in units of antitoxic powder shall be that established by the 

 United States Public Health Service. 



The serum is a fluid separated from the coagulated blood of a horse, 



