240 



Scientific Proceedings (121). 



105 (1852) 



A note on the preparation of anti-colon streptococcus serum. 



By JOHN F. ANDERSON. 



[From the Squibbs' Laboratory, New Brunswick, N. J.] 



About two years ago, Dr. H. A. Cotton requested that I should 

 undertake for him the preparation of a combined Anti-Colon 

 Streptococcus Serum prepared from horses treated with cultures 

 of B. Coli and Streptococci isolated from cases under treatment at 

 the New Jersey State Hospital, Trenton, N. J. 



A certain number of cases under treatment at that institution 

 have been found to yield pure cultures of streptococci of diverse 

 types and also strains of B. Coli. These organisms are obtained 

 from material removed at operation such as tonsils, extracted 

 teeth, lymph glands, especially those found in the mesentery of 

 the colon, and other material from the abdominal cavity. 



The treatment of the horse was with eleven strains of B. Coli 

 and eight strains of streptococci, most of which belonged to the 

 hemolytic group. 



The immunization was begun with small doses of the killed 

 organisms, but after several weeks the use of live cultures was 

 adopted. It was found that the injections of the mixed antigens 

 of the two bacteria were followed in some instances by severe 

 reactions in the horse and that when the antigens were given on 

 different days that the colon antigens were not tolerated as well 

 as the streptococcus antigens. The injection of the colon bacilli 

 induced such violent reactions in some instances that recourse was 

 finally had to the method of preparing the antigen suggested by the 

 author for the preparation of anti-meningococcic and anti-pneumo- 

 coccic sera. 



The plan of treatment as finally decided upon was the injection 

 of washed broth cultures of streptococci and washed agar cultures 

 of colon bacilli. The two antigens were suspended in salt solution 

 and given intravenously for four injections on successive days 

 followed by a rest period of three days when the injections with 

 gradually increasing amounts were repeated. 



