56 VACCINE AND SEBUM THEKAPY 



objective symptoms of the disease are exhibited, a 

 lethal quantity of the toxins have attached themselves 

 to the cells of the nervous system, and in such a 

 condition, it being impossible to overcome or neutralise 

 these poisons, a high mortality from this disease is 

 the result. 



What are the phenomena which govern the special 

 affinity of tetanus for the cells of the nervous system ? 

 Is it that this poison has some special constituent 

 that has the power of linking it to the special nervous 

 cells ? or is it some constituent of these cells that has 

 this affinity for the poison ? The weight of evidence 

 goes to pronounce this in the favour of the latter. 



Uses of Antitoxin in Prevention and Treatment 

 of Tetanus. — As a prophylactic antitoxin may be 

 almost considered a specific. As the immunity con- 

 ferred on an animal by the use of a dose of antitoxin 

 is only passive, therefore in order to keep this 

 immunity established it is necessary to give doses of 

 antitoxin at intervals of at least every ten days, as it 

 has been shown that this immunity cannot be relied 

 on to extend beyond this period. As a prophylactic 

 3,000 U.S.A. units are sufficient for one dose. In 

 cases that are not urgent this is generally given hypo- 

 dermically. Before discussing the curative effects of 

 antitoxin, it is best to describe the various modes of 

 administration. 



1. Subcutaneous Method.— This is the mode fre- 

 quently employed when the antitoxin is given as a 

 prophylactic; but as the antitoxin is only slowly 



