V. A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF 

 ANTISTREPTOCOCCIC SERUM.* 



By DR. JULES BORDET, PREPARATEUR AT THE PASTEUR 



INSTITUT. 



STREPTOCOCCUS INFECTION. 



A. Streptococcus Infection in the Guinea-pig. 



Before beginning the study of antistreptococcic serum and its 

 properties a consideration of the principal characteristics of strep- 

 tococcus infection and the methods of reproduction of the strep- 

 tococcus in the animal body is indispensable. We must therefore 

 consider the characters of the micro-organism that we have used in 

 our experiments and describe briefly the general aspects of the 

 infection which it causes. 



The streptococcus we have used in the majority of instances is 

 one whose virulence was increased by Dr. Marmorek by methods 

 described in the Pasteur Annals of July, 1895. Marmorek has 

 been so kind as to place his organism and his serum at our disposal 

 for these researches and we wish herewith to express our thanks for 

 his kindness. 



The readers of the Pasteur Annals are already aware that the 

 streptococcus in question is extremely virulent; it kills rabbits 

 in a dose of a fraction of a millionth of a cubic centimeter. Its 

 minimal lethal dose may be as low as a thousand millionth of a 

 cubic centimeter. 



We have regularly used, as a culture medium suitable to maintain 

 the virulence of this organism, a mixture of peptonized bouillon 

 and human ascitic fluid, as already described by Marmorek. On 

 this medium the organism grows rapidly and keeps its pathogenic 

 qualities through many successive transplantations. 



* Contribution a 1'eHude du sdrum anti-streptococcique. Annalea de l'lnstitut 

 Pasteur, 1897, XI, 177. 



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