View report page

26
the disease. This toxin can be collected from cultivations of
the special germ by the use of appropriate methods, and if it be
injected in gradually increasing doses under the skin of a horse,
the animal, while showing but very trivial constitutional
symptoms, in time acquires a toleration of this special poison,
so that it becomes proof against Diphtheria. Now, if some of
the blood be taken from such an animal, and one of its
constituents (the serum) is separated, and this is injected into a
diphtheretic patient, it acts as a powerful antidote, and for that
reason it is termed "anti-toxin."
To suit the convenience of practitioners, and to ensure that
the article could be procured pure and properly standardised, and
with the least possible delay, I obtained the consent of the
Council in the latter part of the year to supply "anti-toxin" at
cost price, from the public offices. This provision has been
appreciated by the medical practitioners in the district, and
several tubes were asked for before the year closed.
As the outcome of a collective investigation into the results
of this treatment in Germany, from October 1st, 1894, to April
1st, 1895, it was shown that close upon 6,000 patients had been
injected with anti toxin, out of a total of 10,312 cases, and that
the death-rate was 9.6%, while among those who had not been
so treated the death-rate was 14.7%.
Meteorology in and around London for the year 1895.
January.—The weather for the month was very cold, with frost
on every day with the exception of the week ending the
20th. Snow fell in small quantities on nearly every day,
with the exception of the week above referred to. N. and
N.E. winds prevailed.
February.—The weather was very dry and extremely cold,
with severe frosts on every night till the 20th. The ground
was covered with snow till towards the end of the month.
N. and N.E. winds prevailed.