PART 7.— RELATIOX OF TOXIC ACTION UPON GUINEA PIGS TO SERUM 
THERAPY. 
THE RELATION OF SERUM ANAPHYLAXIS IN THE GUINEA PIG 
TO SERUM THERAPY. 
Besredka and Steinhart® were the first to point out that the second 
injection may be given into the brain of guinea pigs. NYhen a small 
quantity of horse serum is injected into the brain of a sensitized 
guinea pig the symptoms appear promptly and often with great vio- 
lence, and death is a common result. 
Besredka^ believes that intracerebral injections may be used as a 
measure for the toxicity of therapeutic serums. He states that, 
measured in this way, different serums show a wide gamut of toxicity, 
the fatal dose varying from i to yjg c. c. He believes that this tox- 
icity resides in the serum and not in the cellular elements; further, 
that the serums of horses living under apparently the same conditions 
have about the same toxicity, individual variations being rare and of 
little importance. He concludes that, in a general way, all serums 
that incite in guinea pigs grave anaphylactic phenomena in doses of 
iV f o 2 b c. c. and, a priori, above this amount should be considered toxic. 
We doubt whether there is a relation between the toxicity of semms 
as tested upon guinea pigs in this way and their power to produce the 
serum disease or collapse or sudden death in man. The unfortunate 
accidents, such as collapse and occasional death, depend more upon the 
sensitization of the individual than upon the so-called toxicity of the 
serum used. 
Fortunately we were able to obtain two antidiphtheric serums 
which had been used in two cases of sudden death. 
Case No. 1 . — Serum Xo. 2277. Keported by Dr. S. X. TYiley, Xor- 
ristown. Pa., Joum. Am. Aled. Assn., vol. 50, Jan. 11, 1908, p. 137. Air. 
E. AY., aged 34 years, splendid physique, best of health. Prophylactic 
Besredka and Steinhart, Ann. de ITnst. Basteiir, 1907, vol. 21, p. 117. 
& Ann. de ITnst. Pasteur, 1907, vol. 21, p. 777. 
( 45 ) 
