ANTIMENINGITIS SERUM. 



time to develop. In many epidemics such after- 

 effects as deafness, blindness and paralysis have 

 been as high as 75 to 80 per cent. Since the 

 introduction of serum therapy statistics report 

 2.56 to 7.05 per cent. Complications have not 

 arisen in any case where they were not already 

 present before treatment began. 



Introducd into the spinal canal, the serum 

 acts: 



(i) directly on the meningeal lesions, and 



(2) at a distance on the general organism. 



Authorities emphasize the necessity for in- 

 jecting the serum into the subdural space and 

 of using sufficiently large doses. 30 cubic pjgu ^f 

 centimeters is the maximal dose, except in very Operation, 

 young children (infants) and in cases where 

 only a very small quantity of spinal fluid can 

 be withdrawn and an obstacle is encountered. 

 Usually the serum passes readily into the spinal 

 canal. It is injected either by gravity using a 

 rubber tube with a needle attached and con- 

 nected with a funnel, or by the use of a syringe, 

 It is essential to remove as much spinal fluid Method of 

 as will equal the amount of serum injected, as Injection, 

 a rule. The patient's head may be lowered a 

 little after the treatment to induce the spread 

 of the serum into the skull. 



Four injections of the serum are given at 

 intervals of from twelve to twenty-four hours, 

 187 



