BACTERIAL VACCINES 193 



the vaccines should be tested by means of cultures 

 to insure sterility, and that contaminations should 

 be excluded by means of microscopical exami- 

 nation. 



Doses. So far as doses are concerned, these vary 

 with different bacteria, and also according to the 

 indications, opsonic or clinical. The ordinary dose 

 for the staphylococcus vaccine is from 200,000,000 

 to 1,000,000,000 organisms; for the streptococcus 

 it is from 50 to 75 or 100,000,000, and for typhoid 

 from 750,000,000 to 1,000,000,000 bacteria. All 

 the injections are given subcutaneously, and it is 

 well to repeat the injections every three or four 

 days. 



Results. The clinical results obtained by means 

 of bacterial vaccines have varied. There seems 

 considerable agreement on the part of most observers 

 that certain localized infections, such as acne, mul- 

 tiple boils, etc., usually respond remarkably well 

 with this method of treatment. In the treatment of 

 bone tuberculosis the results are not so harmonious, 

 and in the treatment of general infections many 

 failures have been reported. There is no doubt, 

 however, that treatment by means of bacterial 

 vaccines is a valuable addition to our therapeutic 

 armamentarium . 



