THE NONSPECIFIC AGENTS 43 



is given in proper intervals. The effect is diphasic, as with all other 

 nonspecific agents. 



Yeast. The use of yeast is an ancient one in therapy. Hippocrates 

 is supposed to have applied it in the treatment of leukorrhea; during 

 the Middle Ages it is said to have been prescribed in plague; it was 

 not until the middle of the last century, however, that it was used 

 on a larger scale (Mosse) and since then its popularity has gone 

 through several cycles of advance and of decline. In furunculosis, 

 in anthrax, in diabetes, in suppurative processes, in diseases of the 

 gastro-intestinal tract, in arthritis, and in sepsis it found many ad- 

 herents during the earlier revival but by the end of the century 

 it had again practically vanished as a therapeutic measure. Brocq 

 revived its use in 1899. In the period from 1900 to 1907 a great 

 number of clinical reports were published, together with some ex- 

 perimental data (Lardier, Krause, Hedrich) ; more recently Hawk 

 and his associates have published a series of cases, chiefly acne, (vul- 

 garis and rosacea) and furunculosis, in which excellent results were 

 obtained by yeast therapy. Besides the skin diseases, Hawk and 

 his coworkers reported favorable results in acute bronchitis, urethritis, 

 conjunctivitis, arthritis deformans, etc. In all of these conditions it 

 is reported that, apart from any influence on the local pathological con- 

 dition, the general nutrition of the patient was improved. Even when 

 given via the intestinal tract there is evidence of a stimulating ef- 

 fect of the yeast in the leukocytosis which is demonstrable after its 

 use. 



Recently Wolf and Lewis have endeavored to establish some basis 

 for the therapeutic use of yeast by investigating whether the inges- 

 tion of yeast would in any way influence the antibody titer of the serum 

 of experimental animals. Their results were negative. 



Light Rays Roentgen Rays Radium Photodynamic Agents. 

 These agents may in some measure bring about a systematic re- 

 action on the part of the patient, depending on the dosage, the organ 

 or the pathological tissue irradiated and the amount of necrosis already 

 present or produced by the agents under consideration. All these 

 agents first stimulate tissue cells, later with prolonged exposure, 

 cause the death of the cell. In both cases substances enter the blood 

 stream that cause a general reaction on the part of the patient; this 

 may be mild in character, may cause a severe febrile reaction, or even 

 complete shock with lowered blood pressure, prostration, and even 

 death. After the moderate reactions of this type, if the patient is in 

 fairly good condition and able to respond, a definite euphoria, an im- 

 provement of the appetite, nutrition and general well-being may set 

 in, just as after other nonspecific agents. 



In this category must be placed the effect of heliotherapy in the 

 treatment of tuberculosis and other chronic infections, the effect of 



