748 . PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS 



some other observers. It is very important to note that in these 

 experiments antitoxin produced against one series of strains had 

 no appreciable effects upon the toxins of three other strains. This 

 brings out the great importance of producing curative sera by the 

 use of toxins from a number of different strains. According to 

 Dickson, there are at least two types which must be used. As to 

 the therapeutic value, reports have been confusing. Dickson advises 

 intravenous injection and states that his procedure would be as 

 follows: The usually precautions for the administration of horse 

 serum should be observed, and the patient tested for skin sensitive- 

 ness. If no such sensitiveness is found, the serum should be injected 

 immediately into a vein at the rate of not more than 1 c.c. a minute. 

 Comparatively large doses should be given, since the amount of 

 toxin ingested may be quite large. 



Prevention of Botulismus. Deducing preventive measures from 

 the facts cited in the above paragraphs, it would seem that, in the 

 first place, all people in the habit of preparing canned food should 

 be thoroughly alive to the possibilities of contamination and know 

 that B. botulinus spores may be present on fruit, vegetables, etc., 

 before they are preserved. It should be well understood that food 

 may be contaminated with botulinus, without being changed in 

 any way in its gross appearance, and that not even the slightest 

 rancid odor which sometimes indicates its presence, need be apparent. 

 The sterilization of canned food, sausages, preserved meat, etc., 

 should be thoroughly attended to and no home-canned preparations 

 be eaten under any circumstances unless cooked before eating. 



