IMMUNITY — ANTITOXINS. 



increase; this is repeated at suitable intervals 

 as indicated by frequent blood examinations, 

 the object being to keep the blood serum in a 

 condition to prepare the bacteria for destruc- 

 tion by the white blood cells, that is, in as high 

 a state of opsonic power as possible. 



This principle is being put to very successful 

 practical application in staphylococcic infection Application, 

 of the skin such as acne and boils; in tuber- 

 culosis of the joints, glands and even in con- 

 sumption; empyema due to presence of the 

 pneumococcus, ulcerative endocarditis caused 

 by the streptococcus and in various other forms 

 of specific bacterial diseases. It is not ap- 

 plicable except to those diseases of which the 

 specific causative germ is known. 



In other words Opsonin treatment is an 

 attempt to increase the power of resistance of 

 the body to attacks by pathogenic organisms. 

 The results of bacterial invasion are in part, 

 impairment of digestion and assimilative func- 

 tion, normal metabolism is interfered with, so 

 that tissue waste must be repaired, nutrition 

 fostered and strength conserved." 



Antitoxins are antidotes to bacterial 

 poisons. These substances are obtained by in- Antitoxins, 

 jecting into the body of one of the lower ani- 

 mals, found subject to the disease, poisons 

 produced by pathogenic bacteria while develop- 



63 



