eo APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



prostatitis, and conjunctivitis, but has beneficial ef- 

 fects in cases of gonorrhoeal arthritis, endocarditis, 

 peritonitis, and septicaemia. 



Antimeningococcic Serum, — Kolle and Wasser- 

 mann, Jochman, and others have succeeded in immu- 

 nizing animals by injections of the Diplococcus intra- 

 cellularis of Weichselbaum, the antisera thus obtained 

 proving of considerable value in meningitis due to this 

 organism. The serum of Flexner and Jobling, how- 

 ever, both on account of its potency and also the 

 method of its administration, has superseded all others. 

 Flexner and Jobling prepare their serum by inject- 

 ing into horses, first, gradually increasing doses of 

 heated meningococci, followed by injections of un- 

 heated organisms, and finally injections of an autoly- 

 sate or extract of the meningococci which contains the 

 endotoxin. The serum thus produced acts both by 

 opsonizing and bacteriolytic properties. Accurate 

 standardization of the serum is not possible, the dose 

 depending largely upon clinical indications. Flexner 

 and Jobling administer the serum by subdural injec- 

 tion, a lumbar puncture being first done and some of 

 the spinal fluid removed. The quantity of serum to be 

 injected ranges from 30 to 60 c.c. In severe cases the 

 injection must be repeated in 12 or 24 hours and there- 

 after as long as meningococci are found in the spinal 

 fluid. By means of this senmi, the mortality of epi- 



