292 PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



biologies in a dry place. The keeping and storing of biologies may be 

 summarized as follows: 



Keep in a dark place at a uniform temperature near freezing. 



Biologies are rapidly coming into use more and more. Most of them 

 are in the nature of emergency remedies, desired at once and full thera- 

 peutic effects expected without fail. Only too frequently does the physician 

 fail to get the expected effects, simply because the particular product 

 was rendered inert through improper storing. Only a small percentage 

 of practising pharmacists know what biologies really are and how they 

 are prepared and why they must be kept thus and so. In many of the 

 outlying rural districts in particular, it is altogether too common practice 

 to overstock or to keep biologies until they are entirely worthless. Par- 

 ticularly does this apply to smallpox vaccine. 



It would be most desirable to estabhsh conveniently located storage 

 stations for biologies, in charge of experienced and expert keepers. This 

 store room should have double walls on all sides with intervening air 

 spaces, should be suitably lighted, well ventilated, and provided with 

 artificial refrigeration (to take the place of the ice chest). The slight 

 differences in temperature of the different parts of the store room, should 

 be utilized to the best advantage by the keeper. In Heu of such central 

 stations, the pharmacist must provide the proper storage. During 

 the summer months (in states where high summer temperatures — from 

 70° F. to 110° F. — ^prevail) the biologies may be kept in a special compart- 

 ment of the soda fountain refrigerator. Certain products may be stored 

 in the cellar or basement. Some are kept on the store shelves, or behind 

 the prescription counter, although this is objectionable for reasons already 

 given. 



How long will biologies keep? Very naturally this question cannot 

 be answered definitely, as so much depends upon the varying conditions 

 already mentioned. In a general way no biologic product should be 

 used which is two years old, or more, and very few become worthless in 

 less than one month's time. The following is a list of the more important 

 biologies, giving them approximately in the order of their keeping 

 qualities. 



1. Diphtheria antitoxin. Coagulose. 



2. Other sera — antistreptococcic, antimeningococcic, antigonococcic. 



3. Dry glandular extracts and powdered glandular substance. 



4. Bacillary tablets, lactone tablets, tuberculin tablets, and other 

 dry bacillary cultures. 



5. Ordinary bacterins, tuberculins. 



6. Prophylactic bacterins. Sensitized bacterins. 



7. Smallpox vaccine, antirabic vaccine, luetin, mallein, etc. 



