144 DIPHTHERIA AND PSEUDO DIPHTHERIA. 



bottles. Unless it shows that 0.10 c.c. when injected into 

 a guinea-pig of 250 grams causes death of the animal within 

 three days, it should not be accepted. 



The German government adopted this as a standard strength 

 for toxins, and no antitoxin is put on the market unless its 

 value has been tested by means of its power of neutralizing 

 so many units of this standard toxin. 



Value of the Antitoxin Treatment of Diphtheria. It has now 

 been used eight years ; and has been of inestimable impor- 

 tance. As a therapeutic agent given within the first three days 

 of the disease, it has reduced the mortality of diphtheria 

 more than one-half. When used after the third day it is of 

 less value, but still shows decidedly good effects. 



When used as a preventative in persons exposed to the 

 danger of contagion with this disease, it gives protection for 

 several weeks. 



Dose of Antitoxic Serum. As a prophylactic from 200 to 

 500 units should be used, according to the age. For the 

 purpose of treatment not less than 2000 to 3000 units should 

 be injected at one time, and that as early as possible in the 

 course of the disease ; and this dose should be repeated in 

 twenty-four hours unless decided beneficial effects are noticed. 



The experience of the author, based on the examination 

 of several thousand cases of diphtheria treated by serum in 

 New Orleans, has shown that, with the exception of an occa- 

 sional urticarial rash, no untoward effect follows this treat- 

 ment. The explanation of this eruption has not been given, 

 but it is very probably due to some other elements contained 

 in the blood -serum of the horse, and appears to be much 

 more common following the use of serum taken from some 

 horses than from that of others ; it appears to have no rela- 

 tion to the antitoxic power of the serum. 



QUESTIONS. 



When and by whom was the Bacillus diphtherix discovered ? 

 How does it answer the postulates of Koch with regard to pathogenic 

 bacteria ? 



Where is the Bacillus diphtherise found ? 



Describe the appearance of the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus. 



