254 APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



being cut down to only one-half of the previous dose. 

 Strict observance of this dictum is imperative, but 

 unfortunately not in accordance with the instructions 

 furnished the general practitioner by all pharmaceuti- 

 cal firms marketing stock bacterins, thus accounting 

 for no small nmiiber of failures in bacterin therapy. 

 No hard and fast rule can be dogmatically laid down, 

 either as to interval or size of the inoculations. Each 

 case is a study unto itself and must be treated ac- 

 cordingly. 



Contra-indications, Limitations and Causes of 

 Failure of Bacterin Therapy, — By virtue of the 

 theory of biological therapeusis, little should be ex- 

 pected of bacterial inoculations in the acute stages of 

 infectious diseases, indeed they may exert an evil in- 

 fluence. Bacterin therapy, however, is particularly 

 contra-indicated when the individual is overwhelmed 

 by a diffuse infection or when owing to prolonged 

 illness he is prostrated or his tissues are greatly wasted 

 and no longer susceptible to artificial stimulation for 

 the production of antibodies. Such states are bacte- 

 rsemia, septicaemia, pysemia and saprsemia. Among 

 other contra-indications should be mentioned igno- 

 rance and inexperience on the part of the would-be 

 immunologist, and complicating surgical conditions 

 demanding primary and immediate operative inter- 

 vention. 



