4 PROTEIN THERAPY 



silver preparations possessed particular streptococcicidal properties 

 and they were consequently injected in septic conditions due to strep- 

 tococcus infections. It was then noticed that one could obtain equally 

 good results in a number of infections due to other organisms. Finally 

 the colloidal metals have come to be recognized as purely nonspecific 

 reactive agents. 



In the same category must be placed a rather commonly used 

 procedure, the method of autoserotherapy of Gilbert. Introduced in 

 1894 for the treatment of pleurisy with effusion it found consider- 

 able clinical application. The technic consisted in withdrawing a 

 small amount of fluid from the pleural cavity and reinjecting it under 

 the skin. At times a slight temperature reaction was observed follow- 

 ing it. Eisner studied the reaction in experimental animals and ob- 

 served that a leukocytosis usually followed the injection; to this, 

 and to the general constitutional reaction he attributed the therapeutic 

 benefit. Zimmermann had also noted the leukocytosis which he had 

 ascribed to the stimulation of the tissues by autolytic products that 

 had accumulated in the pleural exudate. He even proceeded to show 

 that the injection of peptone would produce such a leukocytosis, but 

 did not continue to the logical conclusion of his experiments. Later 

 the method of autoserotherapy was extended, particularly in the field 

 of dermatology. 



In tumor treatment we have had two related measures. These have 

 been the Beard Trypsin treatment of carcinoma and the use of Coley's 

 Fluid, the latter used especially in sarcoma. Quite apart from the 

 theoretic basis that was put forward to support their use in malignant 

 disease, it is to be noted that both agents were followed by a severe 

 constitutional reaction chill, fever, increased local pain and evidence 

 of an inflammatory reaction, followed by occasional clinical improve- 

 ment, both in the general health of the patient and the arrest of the 

 tumor growth for a period of time. Whether actual cures were ever 

 effected is for the present study unimportant; both reactions were 

 typical nonspecific phenomena and the effect on the local process just 

 what would be anticipated under the circumstances. 



A method closely related to these is that of the injection of tumor 

 autoly sates. These are injected either intramuscularly or intrave- 

 nously in small doses and are almost invariably followed by evidences 

 of a general reaction on the part of the patient (Funkenbein, Blumen- 

 thal) as well as by changes in the nitrogen balance (Bauer, Latzel and 

 Wessely) . 



Another nonspecific method and one that has at times been fol- 

 lowed by very favorable clinical results has been that of the injection 

 of leukocytic extracts in patients ill from a variety of infectious dis- 

 eases. Petterson had observed that in animals such injections seemed 

 to have a very decided protective effect against infection, and Opie, 

 too, had made similar observations. In 1908 Hiss and Zinsser began 



