VACCINE-THERAPY 97 



selves, or else they are unable to reach the purulent cavity. 

 If the former, suitable vaccine will correct the defect ; if 

 the latter, surgical aid, as already indicated, should be called 

 into action. Invariably these cases discharging such un- 

 healthy pus are difficult to cure, and are suggestive of 

 a localized necrosis ; but when the pus becomes thick and 

 tenacious, or what our forefathers, who made few errors 

 in the field of practical observation, were wont to call 

 " laudable " pus, the indications are most favourable. 



The aggravation of these local symptoms after twenty- 

 four hours usually decreases when the positive phase 

 has already set in, and from this period an improvement 

 should be noted. As soon as this appears to be on the 

 wane, another and larger dose should be given. Needless 

 to add, poll-evil and fistula are debilitating diseases, and 

 good food, good surroundings, etc., are essential to the 

 making of a good recovery. 



A word of warning may suitably be given here. The 

 practitioner may examine his case carefully, make an 

 accurate diagnosis, prescribe a suitable vaccine, and yet 

 fail to bring about recovery. 



There is no system of treatment which has not its 

 limitations, and vaccine-therapy is no exception to this 

 rule. The immunizer, with industry, skill, and adapta- 

 bility, can drive these limitations farther away, giving 

 himself more scope to work, and in the end obtaining 

 better results. But there are other points to consider. 

 For example, one practitioner gives up a case after a 

 course of vaccine treatment, and condemns the system 

 in toto ; another practitioner would probe the fistula, 

 and detect, perhaps, a calcifying necrosis on the lower 

 border of the funicular portion of the ligamentum nuchas, 

 or, maybe, a specific periostitis of the body of the atlas or 

 axis. Now, the most perfect autogenous vaccine and the most 

 skilled immunizer would prove both miserable failures if 

 they followed up vaccine-therapy and failed to curette the 

 necrosed area or, maybe, remove a dead slough. 



7 



