GEEMS. 77 



until even the most enthusiastic bacteriologist is 

 ashamed to speak of them. Antitoxins for diphtheria 

 will meet the same fate. 



The author recently addressed four letters to four 

 leading centers of information, asking for evidence- 

 showing that antitoxin without carbolic acid or other 

 antiseptic; i. e., the animal serum, in and of itself has 

 any power to cure disease. Three of the offices ad- 

 dressed were prominent germ theorists. This gives 

 them the advantage. 



The first answer given is from a leading germ theor- 

 ist and professor of bacteriology in two leading me'dical 

 colleges, dividing his time between the two schools. 

 He says: "Do not allow yourself to get crosswise on 

 the diphtheria antitoxin question. The serum is cura- 

 tive beyond a doubt. The opposition is limited to the- 

 most ignorant homeopaths." 



Does that prove anything in favor of antitoxin? 



No. 



Does it prove anything else? 



No. 



The second answer is from a prominent firm of man- 

 ufacturing chemists, and also leading germ theorists. 

 This firm stands very high in the scientific mind. They 

 say: "It is our opinion that the addition of anti- 

 septics to antitoxin is not absolutely necessary. It 

 has been demonstrated that serum in itself has cura- 

 tive powers, in regard to which we would refer you to 

 the works of Crookshank of England, and Metschnikoff 

 of Paris." This is the same Metschnikoff who gave us 

 the "theory" of the white blood-corpuscles. 



