SKIN DISEASES 235 



teric dermatoses. In lichen rubra Spitzer found that he obtained 

 successful therapeutic effects with salvarsan injections provided that 

 a typical Herxheimer reaction followed the injection, i.e., the salvarsan 

 acted as a nonspecific agent in bringing about plasmaactivation. 



Ziembowski is so far the only one who has reported cases of 

 actinomycosis treated with nonspecific injections. He used milk in 

 three cases with excellent results. 



Kingsbury and Bechet have but recently called attention to the 

 favorable influence of blood-letting on certain dermatoses. Veni- 

 puncture, according to the researches of Luithlen, represents a non- 

 specific method closely allied to the other and more mild methods of 

 treatment which have their chief effect in alterations in the permeabil- 

 ity of the capillaries. Achard and Flandin make use of the same 

 phenomenon. They state that in conditions in which the factor of 

 anaphylaxis is evident, the serum acquires what they call cryptotoxic 

 properties, and can be utilized to desensitize. They give it in minute 

 doses below the level of those inducing shock or even the hemoclastic 

 crisis, injecting subcutaneously 0.5 c.c. of the autoserum; twelve 

 hours later, 1 c.c. and the next day 1 or 2 c.c. ; 2 c.c. the following day, 

 and then every second or third day. Recurring urticaria, angioneuro- 

 tic edema and hay-fever yielded promptly to this treatment, but lit- 

 tle effect was apparent in asthma. Their experience with hay-fever 

 has been limited, but one case cured in 1918 had only very slight 

 symptoms the following year. The effect of this treatment is not 

 like that of ordinary serotherapy but seems to be an actual desensi- 

 tization. 



