ARTHRITIS 145 



yaccine. Of this group 7 definitely improved (36%) and in two the 

 results were uncertain; in the rest there was no change, although one 

 of the patients was apparently made worse. In more than half of 

 the patients the temperature rose to a more or less uniform height 

 103 to 104 F. 



Pemberton, working with military cases, calls attention to the 

 fact that many of these soldiers had received repeated injections of 

 typhoid vaccine subcutaneously without effect whatsoever on the 

 arthritic disability, while the intravenous injection, which seems to 

 stimulate the catabolic processes of the body as a whole, may after 

 a single injection, produce evident clinical improvement. 



Harding also treated a number of cases (17) while in military 

 service, but reports that his results were not satisfactory. 



Cross treated 14 cases with typhoid vaccine, using an intravenous 

 dose of from 25 to 250 million organisms. The results were quite 

 satisfactory, most of the cases clearing up very promptly; there were 

 no ill effects and no endocarditis was observed following in the course 

 of the disease. While he observed a leukocytosis following the in- 

 jections he does not consider this the sole factor in the cure of the 

 arthritis. According to his experience "with larger doses and greater 

 severity of the chill the patient has experienced greater and quicker 

 relief than with small doses" this coinciding with the experience that 

 other observers have had in arthritis. 



Cadbury treated 27 cases of arthritis of varied etiology with intra- 

 venous injections of typhoid vaccine. The results were as follows: 



4 acute arthritis (uncomplicated) cured. 



1 rheumatism with cardiac complications and sepsis improved. 



f 2 cured 



16 chronic arthritis -I 7 markedly improved 

 [ 7 slightly improved 



5 gonorrheal arthritis{ \ jJJJ*^ 

 1 luetic improved 



Gow has also published his experience with nonspecific therapy, 

 using either proteoses or heterovaccines, and concludes that in cer- 

 tain forms of arthritis great benefit has been derived from intra- 

 venous protein therapy. Vaccine is given entirely for a shock effect. 

 The type of joint disease which responds best, in Gow's experience, 

 is the multiple infective arthritis for which no active source of pri- 

 mary infection or septic absorption is demonstrable. While Gow 

 regards intravenous protein therapy as of great value in certain care- 

 fully selected cases more particularly of arthritis, the septicemias 

 and coliform infections he states most emphatically that it is not a 

 panacea for all ills; and even in those diseases in which it is of use 

 it is to be regarded solely as an accessory weapon to be employed 



