636 
The Philippine Journal of Science 
1921 
see at once the working basis for the use of the local applica- 
tion of serum. As it has been found that the serum is both 
antitoxic and bactericidal, its administration would mean, then, 
the neutralization, locally, of the unobserved toxins and the 
decreased vitality of the virus, if not its actual death. 
Clinical observations seem to support this view. Twenty- 
four hours after the administration of serum per rectum, the 
patient feels a marked alleviation of the subjective symptoms; 
Day of disease. 
5 6 7 8 9 10 II !2 13 14 15 16 17 Id 19 
Fig. 3. Showing the response of the patient to the administration of the serum per 
rectum (enema). Patient G. R. 
the colicky pain is diminished, as well as the tenesmus; stools 
decrease in number; and the temperature is lower. During 
succeeding days the stools become less bloody and mucoid, then 
feculent, and then of soft consistence (see fig. 3) . 
I am fully aware of the drawbacks to this method. The serum 
may not reach the whole area of tissue involved; it may fail 
to neutralize the toxins already absorbed in the system; or it 
may not be retained properly by patients whose intestines are 
very irritable. 
