The Potency Period of Diphtheric

Anti-Toxin.

One of the empirical beliefs concerning curative serums was that the "life" or "keeping quality" of the antitoxin of diphtheria was of short duration. A demand for "fresh" serum has arisen in consequence, and the misconception has gone so far that many physicians have refused to use an old serum, or one on which the arbitrarily-set time-limit of the manufacturers has expired. This practice is erroneous, and the theoretical ground upon which it is based is fallacious. Incontrovertible proof of this is afforded by the results of careful and prolonged investigations and the testimony of numerous competent authorities is adducible.

As far back as 1898, Abba, Director of the Municipal Hygienic Institute of Turin, reported experiments to show that antidiphtheric serum retained its potency unimpaired at least eighteen months after preparation. In 1900 Mcopinion, extending the period of undiminished potency to two years. Chiadini, inished potency to two years. Chiadini, in 1902, published experimental evidence to show that the antitoxin kept well for at least eighteen months and began to deteriorate a little at the end of two years. A censure being attached to a certain sample of diphtheric antitoxin prepared in the Pasteur Institute because of its alleged deterioration, Roux announcved (1902) that preference was given in the Institute to old serums. At this time also Libertz had occasion to reply to a criticism directed against a tenmonth-old serum, and stated that while serums do diminish in antitoxic value, the loss occurs in the first two or three months, and beyond this they can be kept for years without further impair

ment.

Recently this vitally important problem has been atacked anew with the opportunity afforded by longer intervals. since the serums have been procured, and with more uniform methods of testing and retesting. Testimony in favor of the remarkable stability of diphtheric antitoxin is elicited to sustain the views of the earlier investigators. Thus Marx,

of the Royal Institute of Experimental Therapy in Frankfort, in which the governmental examination for the German Empire is conducted, after an exhaustive study of 1138 lots of antitoxin, publishes his observations in the Festschrift in honor of Robert Koch's sixtieth birthday. He shows conclusively that the majority of serums suffer no antitoxic depreciation even after a lapse of two to five years. The maximum loss of the occasional serum is 33 1-3 per cent, and this diminution usually occurs soon after the serum is taken from the horse. Marx makes this significant statement in concluding his report: "Any mistrust of old serums is unfounded." American serums have been studied by Miller, who tested many samples returned from the market. His results coincide essentially with those obtained by Marx, and he concludes that "The demand for fresh serum is not justified,” and urges that no physician should postpone the treatment of a case of diphtheria awaiting fresh serum, simply because the time limit on that in hand has expired.

With this array of competent scientific authority, and after a series of confirmatory experiments in our biologic laboratories, we have reached the conviction that the arbitrarily-set time limit of one year can be safely extended. We have ascertained by exact scientific research which disprove obsolete traditions, and which would serve to correct erroneous practices. We bring this testimony to the physician in the conviction. that he can without jeopardy to himself or his patient follow its dictates.

FREDERICK STEARNS & Co... Detroit, Mich.

Sanmetto in Enlarged Prostrate and in Loss of Tonicity in Bladder

My experience in using Sanmetto has been very satisfactory. The largest class of cases in which I have been prescribing Sanmetto is found among men who have passed middle life, with symptoms of enlarged prostrate and some difficulty in urination where there is apparently a loss of tonicity of the bladder and the sexual organs. M. BORTS, M. D.