American Veterinary Review. 
OCTOBER, 1897. 
EDITORIAL. 
SEROTHERAPY OF TETANUS. 
The question of the value of serotherapy in tetanns seems 
to be somewhat obscure, and the ordinary practitioner is at a 
loss what to do in reference to that disease. Shall he treat his 
patient with antitoxin, or shall he not ? Will he be justified 
in having his client incur the heavy expense connected with 
the purchase? Will the results of the treatment by antitoxin 
increase the chances of recovery, and many other points remain 
open for discussion. If we are to believe the numerous reports 
of recoveries that are found in veterinary journals, it seems that 
antitoxin has given to those who used it excellent results ; and, 
again, when we listen to the authoritative statements of others, 
antitoxin will not cure a case of lockjaw, no matter how slight; 
it may reduce the severity of the tetanic manifestations and 
shorten the disease, but that is all. 
It is evident that between the two statements, it is difficult 
to select! 
In tracing the subject on the Continent, it is pretty evident 
that there exists between German and French savants a great 
difference of opinion—the former insisting that tetanus is 
curable,^ and the latter that it is only prevented^ by the use of 
antitoxin. 
The Review has on several occasions called the attention 
of its readers to the subject, and many of our friends have 
written upon it in our pages. It is for this reason that we have 
secured and print elsewhere the record of a series of experi- 
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