SERUM THERAPY 131 



c.c. Dr. Mathias Nicoll of the New York Scarlet 

 Fever Hospital (American Journal Diseases of 

 Children, July, 1911) states that the serum giv- 

 en in full doses before the fifth day greatly in- 

 creases the chance of recovery, even in appar- 

 ently hopeless cases ; that in the large majority 

 the temperature falls by crisis within twenty- 

 four hours, or if by lysis the course of the fever 

 is shortened. The occurrence of complications 

 is less frequent and their gravity diminished. 

 In all severe cases of scarlet fever, the serum 

 should be made use of in full doses and with- 

 out delay. 



Antistreptococcus Serum is bactericidal and 

 consequently must be used early. If its admin- 

 istration is long delayed for the bacteriologic 

 examination, much valuable time may be lost 

 and the opportunity for securing the best results 

 will have passed. 



The rapidity with which the serum enters the 

 blood after injection is an important factor in 

 determining its therapeutic effect. // it is in- 

 jected directly into a vein its whole effect oc- 

 curs almost immediately; if into the muscles it 

 occurs after a few hours, while if beneath the 

 skin the full effect is not reached before two 



