DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN 



149 



2. Laryngeal Cases. 



Cases treated with Antitoxin. 



All Cases ; both those treated with 

 Antitoxin, and those not. 



Cases. 



Deaths. 



Mortality 

 per cent. 



Cases. 



Deaths. 



Mortality 

 per cent. 



777 



182 



23.20 



799 



I96 



24.57 



3. Tracheotomy Cases. 



Cases treated with Antitoxin. 



All Cases ; both those treated with 

 Antitoxin, and those not. 



Cases. 



Deaths. 



Mortality 

 per cent. 



Cases. 



Deaths. 



Mortality 

 per cent. 



377 



127 



33-65 



390 



139 



34.30 



Any bad results that have been recorded from 

 the use of the antitoxin are so rare, in comparison 

 with the hundreds of thousands of injections made, 

 that they do not come to be considered here. And, 

 even though a few have occurred, we may be sure 

 that some of them were due, not to the antitoxin, 

 but to the natural course of the diseased The 

 lesser drawbacks, the occurrence of joint-pains 

 and of rashes, are probably much less now than 

 they were a few years ago, and will be further 

 diminished. 



It has been supposed, and said, that the use of 

 the antitoxin increases the complications of the 



* This, of course, does not apply to two instances, in 1901, 

 of accidental contamination of serum. See, for an account of 

 these, The British Medical Journal, November 1901. 



