ANTIBACTERIAL SERA 59 



serum ranging from 10 to 20 c.c. in this disease. Cole 

 finds the results of treatment of pneumonia by anti- 

 pneumococcic serum to be encouraging in certain 

 cases, when used in large doses (100 c.c. or more). 

 He states that this action is probably in part due to 

 antitoxic substances. In other pneumococcus infec- 

 tions, especially serpiginous ulcer of the cornea, bene- 

 fit from its use has been seen. 



Antigonococcic Serum. — Torrey and Rogers have 

 produced an antibacterial serum that is of considerable 

 therapeutic value in certain gonococcus infections. 

 This serum is made by injecting strong, full-gro^vn 

 rams with 24-hour polyvalent cultures of virulent 

 gonococci. Nine or ten in j ections are usually required 

 to produce a serum of high potency, the bacterial sus- 

 pension being heated for half an hour at 65° C. be- 

 fore the first two or three injections, after which the 

 unheated gonococci are used. When sufficiently im- 

 munized the animal is bled from the carotid artery, 

 the serum separated, and stored in sterile ampoules. 

 Standardization of this serum in units is difficult, but 

 some idea of its strength may be gained by testing its 

 agglutinating power. The dose of the antigonococcic 

 serum varies from 2 to 6 c.c, injected under the skin, 

 and repeated every few days. The serum is only to be 

 used as an adjunct to other methods of treatment. It 

 is of little or no value in acute and chronic urethritis. 



