ACTIVE IMMUNIZATION FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES 657 



Sycosis. Sycosis vulgaris is usually caused by the Staphylococcus 

 aureus and albus, and such patients are frequently very rebellious to the 

 ordinary treatment. An autogenous vaccine is very helpful in some 

 cases. Due care should be exercised in making cultures to secure pus 

 from a well-developed lesion. Relatively large doses of vaccine are 

 necessary, and treatment is usually prolonged, at least 12 injections being 

 necessary before the conclusion is reached that the vaccines are of no 

 service. As a rule, the condition will improve under vaccine therapy, 

 but only in exceptional cases does a complete cure result. 



Acne. Acne is frequently caused by two microorganisms a staphy- 

 lococcus and the acne bacillus. In cases showing pustulation a staphy- 

 lococcus is invariably present, and exceptionally the bacillus may be 

 found alone in comedones. Cultures should be made from several 

 lesions, being careful to secure pus that has not been contaminated by 

 the skin. Stock vaccines may be used, although autogenous vaccines 

 are likely to yield better results. It is well to administer a mixed vaccine 

 of the staphylococcus and acne bacillus, especially if the lesions are pus- 

 tular. It is highly essential that other forms of treatment be instituted 

 while vaccines are being tried, as the treatment is usually prolonged. 

 Exceptionally, however, a brilliant result may be observed after a few 

 injections. I generally prepare a mixed vaccine of 10,000,000 acne 

 bacilli to each 500,000,000 cocci per 0.5 c.c. of vaccine. The first few 

 doses consist of 0.5 c.c., and later this amount may be increased to 1 c.c. 

 per dose, which usually contains enough bacilli and cocci for a number 

 of injections. Doses are given every five to seven days, or just when 

 retrogression is observed to occur. It may be necessary to use large 

 doses, and in any case the treatment is prolonged over many weeks 

 and months. Most cases will show improvement, but few are abso- 

 lutely cured by a single series of injections. 



Erysipelas. This infection is usually caused by the streptococcus 

 erysipelatis. In severe cases an autogenous vaccine of about 20,000,000 

 cocci per cubic centimeter may be administered every three or four days, 

 and frequently aids in reducing the severity of the inflammation and 

 overcoming mental unrest and physical discomfort. A vaccine may be 

 of aid in the treatment of subacute and chronic types of this disease. 

 Stock vaccines are of little or no value. 



GENTTO-URINARY DISEASES 



Cystitis. Acute or subacute cystitis following catheterization after 

 labor or surgical operations or occurring in children is usually caused by 

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