86 
EDITORIAL. 
the ten years previous to the discovery of the application of 
serotherapy ; and showed that out of these there had been i6i 
deaths—enormous fatality. In a second list, and as a compari¬ 
son, they gave the number of cases treated by serotherapy as 62, 
with 51 recoveries and only ii deaths. Satisfactory results, all 
in favor of the new treatment and certainly sufficient to encour¬ 
age its introduction on a large scale. 
The treatment as followed by the authors lasted between two 
and ten days—exceptionally in one case 21 days. The quantity 
of serum injected varied in several-cases from 20 to iioc.c. 
In relation to the nature and the development of the disease, 
there is a point of peculiar importance which is also presented 
in the communication. It is this, that while purpura is not a 
contagious disease in the true sense of the word, experience 
seems to show that, as much as it is for tetanus, the too long 
sojourn of an animal in a locality already occupied by indi¬ 
viduals diseased with purpura, may promote in him the appear¬ 
ance of the disease. 
* 
* ^ 
Infectious Pneumonia.— The application of serotherapy 
to this disease has been made with two objects in view, as 
prophylactive and curative. The preparation of the preventive 
serum of Prof. Tignieres has been and is now tested with 
results which are not sufficient to positively decide as to its 
value. Comparatively a new discovery, there are probably 
some things imperfect in its preparation and in its application, 
which demand further investigations and experiments, before 
its effects can be established with positive certainty. In this 
point the serum of Prof. Lignieres is passing through the same 
road as others which are now enjoying an undisputed reputation. 
Time will tell. 
If the prophylactic application of serotherapy against infec¬ 
tious pneumonia remains yet a question to study, according to 
the experiments made by Drs. Della Noce and Giancola, re* 
■corded in the Clmica Vetermaria^ its effects as a curative agent 
can no longer be ignored, and the results which they have ob- 
