280 APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



selection or preparation of the appropriate bacterin, 

 dependent upon the determination of the invading 

 microbe. 



Puerperal sepsis is entitled to special and serious 

 consideration. In our opinion the applicability of 

 bacterins is directly dependent upon the presence or 

 absence of a general bacteremia, determinable by 

 blood culture. If the former exists, active immuniza- 

 tion is definitely contra-indicated ; if the septic process 

 is localized to the pelvis, bacterial inoculation, cau- 

 tiously employed, may prove serviceable. We have 

 been gratified on several occasions by the excellent 

 results of bacterins supplementing or alternating 

 passive immunization (serum therapy). In any 

 event, this is a condition wherein opsonic indices will 

 render important service in the control of therapy. 



Diseases of Boxes and Joints 



Osteitis, Periostitis and Osteomyelitis, — Infections 

 from the following bacteria come into consideration: 

 Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Pneumococcus, Gono- 

 coccus. Typhoid hacillus. Colon bacillus and Tubercle 

 bacillus. In the acute stage of an osteoperiostitis, 

 if bactersemia is not present, bacterin therapy is very 

 beneficial, especially in pneumococcic, gonococcic, 

 typhoid and colon infections ; in early spur formation 



