BIOLOGICAL THERAPEUTICS 551 



While the results attained are not uniformly satisfactory, neverthe- 

 less, from the statistical data available, there appears to be no doubt 

 that the application of bacterin therapy in most of the infections induced 

 by pyogenic organisms is justified, especially if dependence is not entirely 

 placed upon their action, but sanitary, hygienic, therapeutic, surgical and 

 other means are employed in association with the biologic treatment. 



The widely distributed staphylococcus is primarily or secondarily re- 

 sponsible for suppurative processes. Most frequently, however, a bacteri- 

 ological examination of such conditions reveals a mixed infection with 

 streptococci and many times the colon bacillus is also present. In all 

 such cases a bacterin containing these organisms when properly applied 

 will yield good results, and this has been found to be the case especially 

 in infected wounds such as open j oints, nail puncture, wire cuts, abscesses, 

 fistulous withers, poll evil, quittor etc. In recent investigations by Scho- 

 field, navel ill in foals yielded most readily to the treatment with mixed 

 bacterial vaccines, and similar good results were obtained by other investi- 

 gators. 



Infectious mammitis is, in the majority of cases, induced by strep- 

 tococci. The infection is usually very persistent, causing at times great 

 losses in herds, not only in a reduction of the milk supply, but also from 

 the entire or partial functional destruction of the udder of the affected 

 animals. 



Specific bacterin therapy has been frequently employed for combat- 

 ting this condition and favorable reports are available from such treat- 

 ment. Since infectious mammitis is frequently associated with a mixed in- 

 fection of streptococci, staphylococci, and possibly the bacillus coli, the 

 injection of bacterins containing these organisms should be undertaken, 

 especially since no other specific remedy is known for the conti'ol of this 

 disease. It is natural that, aside from the administration of the bacterin, 

 attention must be directed toward strict sanitary, hygienic and the usual 

 therapeutic measures. 



Autogenous Bacterins. 



In all persistent and aggravating conditions in which a specific organ- 

 ism has been found to be the responsible factor, it is advisable to utilize 

 a bacterin prepared from the respective species of bacteria; thus, for in- 

 stance, in a furunculosis a staphylococcus bacterin acts very promptly and 

 prevents recurrence. There are numerous other conditions in which the 

 use of mixed bacterial vaccines, staphylococcus bacterins, streptococcus 

 bacterin and colon bacterin have given excellent results, but it is neces- 

 sary to emphasize that in order to obtain the best results, every case 

 should be individually studied and a product selected in accordance with 

 the clinical, and if necessary, with the bacteriological findings. Further- 

 more, it is again emphasized that in treating such conditions with bac- 

 terins, the necessary medical and surgical measures must not be neglected. 

 Where the circumstances permit a bacterin made from cultures obtained 

 from the case they are intended to treat has the preference over a stock 

 bacterin made from the same species of bacteria. Obviously such a bac- 

 terin has limited application and always means a delay of several days in 

 instituting treatment. 



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