Chapter XI 



NORMAL SERUM THERAPY 



Normal serum, in contrast to antibacterial 

 sera, does not contain any specially induced an- 

 tibodies but is used solely for its hemostatic 

 property, and is obtained from the blood of 

 animals that have not undergone a process of 

 immunization. Normal horse serum or normal 

 rabbit serum is most frequently used, although 

 normal human serum has been used in a few 

 cases. Human serum is not easily obtainable 

 and, for obvious reasons, horse serum is more 

 satisfactory from a commercial standpoint. 



Composition Normal Horse Serum contains 

 properties which increase the coagulability of 

 the blood. These properties are derived prob- 

 ably from the disintegration of blood platelets 

 and leukocytes. The serum differs from whole 

 blood in that it contains no fibrinogen and no 

 formed cellular elements. The hemostatic prop- 

 erties of Normal Horse Serum may be demon- 

 strated in vitro by its causing formation of 

 clot in plasma. I 



Clinical Use Clinical results leave, little 



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