290 BACTERIOLOGY. 



Walker 1 finds that an injection of antistreptococcus 

 serum in cases of pure streptococcus infection has been 

 followed by strikingly beneficial results. He believes 

 the variability in the results of the serum treatment 

 to be due to a specific affinity of a serum for the par- 

 ticular strain of streptococci used in producing it. He 

 states that more uniform results are likely to be obtained 

 from a polyvalent serum ; from the prompt injection of 

 serum at the commencement instead of near the close of a 

 severe infection ; and from the use of recently prepared 

 serum. He also advises the administration of the serum 

 for some days after the general symptoms have disap- 

 peared, in order to avoid a recrudescence. The question 

 of dose must be judged by the nature of each case and 

 the effect obtained by the injection, but it is important 

 to know that large doses spread over several days have 

 been used without ill effect. The most rational method 

 would seem to be that of a large injection (from 20 to 

 25 c.c.) on the first occasion, followed by smaller doses 

 as the case may require. 



NOTE. If the opportunity presents, obtain cultures 

 from a case of erysipelas. Compare the organism 

 thus obtained with streptococcus pyogenes. Inocu- 

 late rabbits both subcutaneously and into the circula- 

 tion with about 0.2 c.c. of pure cultures of these organ- 

 isms in bouillon. Do the results correspond, and do they 

 in any way suggest the results obtained with staphylo- 

 coccus pyogenes aureus when introduced into animals in 

 the same way? Do these streptococci flourish readily 

 on ordinary media? 



1 Walker : The Lancet, Dec. 31, 1904. 



