62 APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



Antidy sent eric Serum, — We saw that an antitoxic 

 serum has been successfully produced and used in in- 

 fections with the Shiga type of dysentery bacillus. 

 The form of dysentery more common in the United 

 States is due to the mannite-fermenting or Flexner 

 type of organism. An antibacterial serum has been 

 obtained for treatment of infection with this organism, 

 but used with indifferent success. 



Anticholera Serum, — Attempts have been made to 

 obtain both antitoxic and antibacterial sera for use in 

 cholera. Kolle and Wassermann, MetchnikofF and 

 Roux tried to get a soluble toxin from cultures of the 

 vibrio, and from that to make an antitoxin. But it is 

 probable that they only obtained the intracellular 

 toxin from disintegration of the organisms. The sera 

 produced by inoculation of animals with these endo- 

 toxins or with the bacteria themselves, have been of 

 little value in the treatment of cholera. More favor- 

 able results have followed active immunization with 

 cultures of the organisms. 



Antiplague Serum. — Two types of antiplague 

 serum have been employed. The first is made by in- 

 oculation of horses with plague bacilli, and the other 

 by inoculation with nucleo-proteids produced from 

 cultures. Extensive trials of these sera in India show 

 little benefit from their use in the treatment of plague, 

 though life may be slightly prolonged by them. 



