ANTIBACTERIAL SERUMS. 



elated with the protoplasm of certain microbes. 

 These toxic substances are called endotoxins. 



Some of the bacilli in which the endotoxins 

 are found are those which cause typhoid fever, 

 dysentery and cholera. The endotoxins of the 

 bacilli of these diseases cause strong anti- 

 bacterial serums to form in immunized animals. 



Antibacterial or bactericidal serums do not 

 neutralize toxins. It has not been proven geru^g**"^^ 

 definitely whether the opsonic or bacteriotropic Investigated, 

 substances which stimulate phagocytosis are of 

 importance in order to bring about the vital 

 action of antibacterial serums. While experi- 

 ments in test tubes have demonstrated anti- 

 bacterial serum to be able to kill bacteria, 

 experiments in the animal body have shown 

 them to be much more reliable as preventives 

 of infection than they are as curative agents. 

 Immunity conferred by antibacterial serums is 

 of short duration, lasting only two or three 

 weeks. 



"For this reason they are more useful as 

 prophylactics in man when used in combina- 

 tion with vaccination. In saving the lives of 

 animals which have been experimented upon, 

 antibacterial serums have proven efficient 

 provided they are injected in advance of the 

 bacteria, or at the same time, or within a few 

 minutes after the bacterial injection." 



i8i 



