ANTIBACTERIAL SERA 63 



Anti-anthrcur Serum, — Of the many antisera that 

 have been produced for the treatment of anthrax, that 

 of Sclavo is the best. This is prepared by inoculation 

 of asses simultaneously with cultures of the Bacillus 

 anthracis and antiserum, a very powerful serum being 

 thus obtained. Sclavo advises a dose of 30 to 40 c.c. 

 divided into three or four parts, injected into the ab- 

 dominal wall in different regions. This dose may be 

 repeated in 24 hours if necessary. In grave cases, in- 

 travenous injection of the serum is recommended. 

 Statistics tend to show that use of the serum reduces 

 the mortality of anthrax from about 26 per cent, to 

 6 per cent. 



Antimelitensis Serum, — A curative serum for the 

 treatment of Malta or Mediterranean fever was first 

 prepared by Wright by immunizing goats with cul- 

 tures of M, meliteims. Horses were later employed 

 for immunization with more or less encouraging re- 

 sults. However, the method of passive immunization 

 in this disease has been overshadowed in recent years 

 by active immunization. 



