254 PASSIVE IMMUNIZATION 



by the treatment is impossible to foretell from the meager data which 

 are now available. Of the thirty-seven cases treated by Betz and 

 Geronne, five died, but of these several were tubercular, and one 

 in an extremely critical condition, when injected (on the sixth day). 



In localized infections with the pneumococcus it would seem advis- 

 able to combine the serum treatment with the use of sodium oleate 

 and boracic acid, as recommended by Lamar (see section on 

 Chemotherapy) . 



STAPHYLOCOCCUS INFECTIONS 



While several attempts have been made to combat staphylococcus 

 infections with corresponding antisera, we know too little as yet 

 of their mode of action and their effect as to warrant more than a 

 mere statement of this fact. Noteworthy clinical results have appar- 

 ently not as yet been achieved. The great question here as else- 

 where in the treatment of bacterial infections with antisera is 

 whether or not all the organisms are of one type. If this should not 

 be the case it is clear that only a homologous serum would likely 

 be of value, and as a matter of fact, evidence is rapidly accumulating 

 which goes to show that marked differences actually exist between 

 staphylococci derived from different sources. 



ANTIGONOCOCCUS SERUM 



Of late an antigonococcus serum also has been placed upon the 

 market, for which good results have been claimed. Torrey's serum 

 is prepared by immunizing sheep with gradually increasing doses of 

 dead, and later, of living cultures of virulent strains, and is marketed 

 in 2 c.c. ampoules, which amount represents a single dose. Repeated 

 injections are made at intervals of one, two, three, or four days, 

 according to the requirements of the individual case. Its use is 

 advocated in chronic conditions produced by gonococcic infection, 

 as in those arising from a direct extension of the primary infection 

 into organs like the prostate, epididymis, testicles, bladder, and 

 Fallopian tubes, as also in cases of gonococcus arthritis, iritis, endo- 



