Abstract
THE second edition of Prof. Hewlett's book on serum-theraDv, which has just appeared, does not claim to give more than an outline of the mode of preparation and employment of the therapeutic sera and vaccines. As such it ought to prove of service to the student or busy practitioner, who may not have the opportunity or the time to consult the larger works on this subject. It is doubtful, however, if the author has been entirely successful in his effort to condense the subject, for the requirements of the interested medical reader. The authorities quoted, though few, are not always the most authoritative, and their opinions are too frequently referred to without criticism or comment. A good account is given of the preparation of the antitoxins for diphtheria and tetanus and antivenin. Referring to the employment of antitoxin as a prophylactic against diphtheria, the author is apparently impressed with the objections raised against it on the ground that an anaphylactic state may be induced, and he thinks that a diphtheria-endotoxin, which he is at present elaborating, may prove an efficient substitute for antitoxic serum,in prophylaxis. The appearance of this preparation wijl be awaited with interest by the medical profession. The intracerebral injection of tetanus antitoxin is recommended as the method which gives most hope of success in cases which have lasted any length of. time, but it does not seem that trustworthy data on this question are available.
Serum and Vaccine Therapy. Bacterial Therapeutics and Prophylaxis Bacterial Diagnostic Agents.
By Prof. R. T. Hewlett. Second edition. Pp. x + 406. (London: J. and A. Churchill, 1910.) Price 7s. 6d. net.
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Serum and Vaccine Therapy Bacterial Therapeutics and Prophylaxis Bacterial Diagnostic Agents . Nature 86, 379 (1911). https://doi.org/10.1038/086379b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/086379b0