FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THERAPEUTIC INOCULA- 

 TIONS OF BACTERIAL VACCINES. 1 



By Eugene R. Whitmore. 2 

 (From the Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I. 



At the annual meeting of the Manila Medical Society in February, 

 1908, I made some observations on the therapeutic' inoculation of bacterial 

 vaccines and it is my purpose now to add new points that I have gathered 

 in the past year. The field of bacterial vaccination is too well known to 

 require any general discussion of the subject. 



One of the points which I emphasized was that it was not necessary 

 to take the opsonic index regularly in order to control dosage, but that 

 the clinical course of most diseases was a sufficient indicator. We all 

 know that everywhere this is now the accepted idea and very few men are 

 depending on the opsonic index for their indications for treatment. I 

 also spoke of bacterial vaccination in gonococcus infections and it is 

 worth while to state my further experience in these infections. I do not 

 see that in acute urethritis the vaccination in any way shortens the course 

 of the infection, but I am of the opinion that it lessens the complications. 

 However, it is difficult to say which cases would and which would not have 

 complications under other treatment, and I know that bacterial inocula- 

 tion does not entirely prevent complications, as I have seen an epididy- 

 mitis develop in a case of urethritis that was being treated with vaccine. 



In chronic urethritis the use of a stock gonococcus vaccine does not 

 offer much hope. The infection here is usually mixed and it is necessary 

 to make a vaccine from cultures obtained from the urethral discharge, 

 or from prostatic milkings. 



I have had several cases of from four to eight years' standing clear up 

 in less than a month under treatment with a mixed vaccine and prostatic 

 massage. These cases at the present time have remained entirely well 

 .for over six months. Some have improved under this treatment, while 



1 Read in part before the Philippine Islands Medical Association at Manila, 

 P. I., on February 23, 1909. 



2 Major, Medical Corps, U. S. Army; detailed to the Biological Laboratory, 

 Bureau of Science, Manila. 



565 



