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24
A consideration of the foregoing statistical tables and clinical
observations, covering a period of 12 months and embracing
a large number of cases, in our opinion sufficiently demonstrates
the value of antitoxin in the treatment of
diphtheria.
It must be clearly understood, however, that to obtain the
largest measure of success with antitoxin it is essential
that the patient be brought under its influence at a
comparatively early date—if possible, not later than the
second day of disease. From this time onwards the chance
of a successful issue will diminish in proportion to the
length of time which has elapsed before the treatment is
commenced. This, though doubtless true of other methods,
is of still greater moment in the case of treatment by
antitoxin.
Certain secondary effects not infrequently arise as a direct
result of the injection of antitoxin in the form in which it
has at present to be administered, and even assuming that
the incidence of the normal complications of diphtheria is
greater than can be accounted for by the increased number
of recoveries, we have no hesitation in expressing the
opinion that these drawbacks are insignificant when taken in
conjunction with the lessened fatality which has been
associated with the use of this remedy.
We are further of the opinion that in antitoxic serum we
possess a remedy of distinctly greater value in the treatment
of diphtheria than any other with which we are
acquainted.
(Signed) W. GAYTON.
JOHN MacCOMBIE.
E. M. BRUCE.
F. FOOBD CAIGER.
E. W. GOODALL.
C. E. MATTHEWS.
March 25th, 1896.