DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN 



145 



5. The beneficial effect produced on the clinical 

 course of the disease. 



Conclusions* 



"A consideration of the foregoing statistical 

 tables and clinical observations, covering a period 

 of twelve months, and embracing a large number of 

 cases, in our opinion sufficiently demonstrates the 

 value of antitoxin in the treatment of diphtheria. 



" It must be clearly understood, however, that 

 to obtain the largest measure of success with anti- 

 toxin it is essential that the patient be brought 

 under its influence at a comparatively early date — 

 if possible, not later than the second day of 

 disease. From this time onwards, the chance of a 

 successful issue will diminish in proportion to the 

 length of time which has elapsed before the treat- 

 ment is commenced. This, though doubtless true 

 of other methods, is of still greater moment in the 

 case of treatment by antitoxin. 



" Certain secondary effects not unfrequently arise 

 as a direct result of the injection of antitoxin in the 

 form in which it has at present to be admini- 

 stered, and even assuming that the incidence of the 

 normal complications of diphtheria is greater than 

 can be accounted for by the increased number of 

 recoveries, we have no hesitation in expressing the 

 opinion that these drawbacks are insignificant when 

 taken in conjunction with the lessened fatality 

 which has been associated with the use of this 

 remedy. 



" We are further of the opinion that in antitoxic 

 serum we possess a remedy of distinctly greater 

 value in the treatment of diphtheria than any other 

 with which we are acquainted." 



K 



