322 A MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY 



theless, it can hardly be doubted that measures should be adopted 

 by local authorities and others to prevent the spread of tuberculosis. 

 All forms of tuberculosis have now been made notifiable in this 

 country. Patients should be warned of the danger of disseminating 

 their expectoration, and should use pocket-spittoons containing an 

 antiseptic, or handkerchiefs (such as the Japanese paper ones) 

 which can be destroyed. Rooms which have been inhabited by 

 tuberculous patients should be disinfected, for which purpose 

 Delepine recommended spraying with a 1-100 solution of chloride 

 of lime. Although the occurrence of direct infection can rarely be 

 proved, the possibility of this cannot be ignored. Not only should 

 the dissemination of infection be prevented, but the resistance of 

 the individual should be raised by providing a healthy environment 

 and by inculcating the importance of fresh air. 



Serum therapeutics and vaccine. Many sera have been 

 introduced for the treatment of tuberculosis, e.g. Marag- 

 liano's, Marmorek's, Spengler's, Mehnarto's, etc. Speng- 

 ler's I.K. serum is of considerable value in many cases : 

 it is prepared by immunising rabbits by intramuscular 

 injections and contains the laked red- corpuscles as well 

 as the serum. 1 Mehnarto's is stated to be a mixture of 

 sheep and snake serums and is reported favourably on by 

 Barcroft. 2 



For vaccine treatment, tuberculins R and BE are usually 

 employed (p. 306). Latham has found that tuberculin 

 given per os produces its characteristic effects. 



Immunity. Attempts have been made from time to 

 time to produce immunity against the B. tuberculosis, 

 particularly in cattle. Thus McFadyean 3 found that 

 heifers which had previously been subjected to repeated 

 doses of tuberculin (old) in some cases resisted infection 

 with virulent bacilli. Behring 4 also employed human 

 tubercle bacilli for the vaccination of cattle with satis- 



1 See Treatment of Tuberculosis by Immune Substances (I.K.) Therapy. 

 Fearis (John Murray, 1912). 



2 British Journ. of Tuberculosis, 1913. 



3 Trans. Path. Soc. Lond., vol. liii, 1902, p. 20. 



4 Brit. Med. Journ., 1906, vol. ii, p. 577. 



