132 IMMUNE SERA 



to 100 million. The bacterial suspensions are heated 

 to 60 C. for twenty minutes, 0.5% carbolic acid 

 is added, and tests are made to insure sterility. 

 The time for inoculation is governed by the opsonic 

 index. If the first inoculation has been properly 

 gauged there is a brief negative phase, followed by 

 a positive phase of some days' duration. As this 

 positive phase gradually drops, one gives another 

 inoculation and watches the effect on the opsonic 

 index. If the index drops markedly and rises but 

 little, the dose has been too large. Or if the nega- 

 tive phase is slight, and the positive phase slight and 

 transitory, the dose has been too small. With 

 proper dosage the negative phases are small, and the 

 opsonic index is kept fairly well above normal. 

 Hand in hand with this goes an improvement in the 

 clinical symptoms. 



Wright and his pupils have published accounts of 

 a large number of cases successfully treated accord- 

 ing to this method. The results are reported as espe- 

 cially good in cases of severe acne, multiple boils, 

 lupus, tubercular glands, and bone tuberculosis. 



In judging of the value of Wright's method we 

 must bear clearly in mind that the essential feature 

 of it is the control by opsonic measurements; treat- 

 ment of bacterial infections by the inoculation of 

 dead cultures has long been known. 



The results obtained by most workers in this coun- 

 try fail to bear out Wright's claims for the method. 



