SERUM ANTIDIPHTHERICUM IN THE PHARM ACOPCEIA. 
The next edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia, being the 
eighth decennial revision, 1900, which is to appear shortly, will con- 
tain an antitoxic serum for the first time. The serum will be known 
official^ as antidiphtheric serum or Serum aniidiphtherlcum and the 
unit will be recognized as that approved or established by the United 
States Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service. 
The official text, which has been kindly furnished by Professor 
Remington in advance, will be as follows: 
SERUM ANTIDIPHTHERICUM 
ANTIDIPHTHERIC SERUM DIPHTHERIA ANTITOXIN 
A fluid separated from the coagulated blood of a horse Equus cctbal- 
lus Linne, immunized through the inoculation of diphtheric toxin. 
It should be kept in sealed glass containers, in a dark place, at tem- 
peratures between 1.5^ and 15° C. (10° and 59° F.). 
A yellowish or 3 ^ellowish-brown, transparent or slight^ turbid 
liquid, odorless or having a slight odor, due to the presence of the 
antiseptic used as a preservative. 
Specific gravity: 1.025 to 1.010 at 25° C. (77° F.). 
Antidiphtheric Serum gradual loses its power, the loss in one 
year varying between 10 per cent, and 30 yier cent. Each con- 
tainer should be furnished with a label or statement, giving the 
strength of the Antidiphtheric Serum, expressed in antitoxic units, 
the name and percentage hy volume of the antiseptic used for the 
preservation of the liquid (if such be used), the date when the 
Antidiphtheric Serum was last tested, and the date be^mnd which 
it will not have the strength indicated on the label or statement. 
The standard of strength, expressed in units of antitoxic power, 
should be that approved or established by the United States Pub- 
lic Health and Marine-Hospital Service. 
Average dose.— 3000 units. 
Immunizing dose for well persons.— 500 units. 
The only other pharmacopeia officially recognizing diphtheria anti- 
toxin is the Arzneibuch fur das Deutsche Reich (Pharmacopea Ger- 
manica), fourth edition, 1900. The following is a translation of the 
German text: 
SERUM ANTIDIPHTHERICmi — I)IPHTHERIE-HEILSERU]M. 
The blood serum of horses which haye been immunized against the 
diphtheria poison. It is allowed to be sold in commerce by author- 
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