426 WHITMORE. 



Other cases of gonorrhceal arthritis, furunculosis, acne, empyema 

 and lupus have given excellent results. I have just injected a refractory 

 case of Pemphigus contagiosa with vaccine from the pustules of the 

 patient and the outcome, apparently, will be satisfactory. 



The result in gonorrhceal ophthalmia should be good, and the ability 

 to keep vaccine on hand would make it possible to start opsonic treat- 

 ment at once without in any way interfering with the other treatment 

 of the case. Ohlmacher reports good results in three cases. 



(1) The opsonins are the most important of the antibacterial elements 

 in the blood and opsonotherapy is one of our best methods for the treat- 

 ment of an ever increasing number of bacterial diseases. 



(2) Opsonotherapy has passed the experimental stage and since it 

 has been shown that certain vaccines retain their potency for weeks, it 

 is practicable to treat certain bacterial diseases by the injection of the 

 corresponding vaccine, just as we treat diphtheria by the injection of 

 the corresponding antitoxin. 



(3) Gonorrhoeal arthritis responds readily to inoculation with vaccine, 

 and this condition is to be placed in the list of diseases which can be 

 treated by a vaccine prepared commercially. 



(4) Gonorrhoeal epididymitis seems to respond readily to inoculation 

 with vaccine, while, so far, no statement can be made regarding urethritis. 



(5) The opsonic index, while it is the only scientifically accurate 

 method of estimating the immunization response to bacterial inoculation, 

 is not necessary in the treatment of certain bacterial diseases; the 

 progress of the case being sufficient index for practical purposes in such 

 diseases.. 



(6) Bacterial inoculation does not interfere in any way with any 

 other treatment that it is desired to carry out in a particular case of 

 any disease. 





