SERUM THERAPY 139 



cerebrospinal meningitis is one of the greatest 

 scientific achievements of the twentieth century. 

 The treatment consists of the removal from the 

 spinal canal of the exudate caused by the infec- 

 tion, and of the introduction of a specific anti- 

 bacterial serum. In all inflammations of the 

 meninges, provision must be made for the relief 

 of the hydrocephalic symptoms resulting from 

 the confinement of the exudate in the meninges 

 which are bounded on one side by the bony 

 skull and on the other side by the softer brain 

 tissues. As the fluid collects in larger quantities, 

 pressure is thus exerted on the important cen- 

 ters within the brain. 



At first the serum was used subcutaneously 

 and intravenously in varying doses which pro- 

 duced the indifferent results. Flexner first 

 proved by experimental tests in the monkey 

 that Antimeningococcus Serum introduced in- 

 traspinally offered best results. The sub- 

 sequent clinical use of the serum in this way 

 helped to definitely establish it as a relia- 

 ble therapeutic agent of tremendous possi- 

 bilities. In order to attain good results in cere- 

 brospinal meningitis with the specific Antimen- 

 Lngococcus Serum, the serum must be intro- 



