INFLUENZA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 752, 26 February 1910, Page 12

INFLUENZA.

: '■>; vTETING 'FpE: ; A;- NEW:<N3&^ :;\ ,; Eesearoh .work ;on : a new influenza,'interrupted'during;the summer of innuehza,:patients,: hae recently been taken : up''.again"at-'Sfc. Mary's. Hospital,'Paddington;'. The new treatmont,. which .-.consists, "of .injecting, hypodermically,. a : eterilised .' liquid:.Eota.tion.of influenza Vgerms.Via' verj ;':■ similar to-, the 'vaccine' treatment for glandular tuberculosis-ahd ; Vaone,';which,"-under the directiona.'of Sir lAlmroth'.Wrighti.'have ,been' : in': use:, for •'..some.:.; months . : at: St.•Mary's.;.;. ,',:;^,.;V.,'.-.v;. , . ■;•■' r '.'-, b'apilli are - ; artificially 'grown'on';a enitable.; Berum. -.orljbrqth.' Wien' the '• fe ; .-iluiredT strength-- ■ of ..the" .bacilli have been i obtained: all .-further germ activity is' prevented by heating the culture.b'roth;«ntil the bacilli..a'rh-killed.' .'L'he.resulting.solution;,.wheh.consists;, of -, dead'.baeilli, and : the;,to3ins." or j poisons :which, they have. formed' during growth, is 'then' staridardis'ed 69 -that the:, physician .; can'. accurately >.-gntige .the ' Btrength ,of ; his- dose; ■.■:.".[!■'■■■'■■■■■ ': A--":,'?-;: ■' ■; : '.'- >. V-,

1 The .neiv; 'treitmeni 'is based 'on the thepry.i.that recqvery;.irpm, : .aiy .-infectious disease, such as influenza '■, results from ■ the : killing off - of; the attacking, germs and the neutralisation 'of ..their- poisons ■ by..' anti;toiins; which Nature automatically forms in. the • system; ,os •,soon aa. the fight be-' gin's.;-.■..;■.:■':. ;:v ; ,;,j■'•"•■;■..7;...-.. ■>}•'■■.. - -If. the. toxins'overwhelm, the: anti-toxins .the- gern-is. flourish > and. multiply;: while: :more.and-more poisons are produced un. til the: patient : .. succumbs; : :: if ■. ■ Nature's' anti-toxins are;the stronger- the attacking germs.aregradually killed off;'the''poisons are .neutralised;. and recovery ensues;-. ■ :., ..... The,,; artificially v -prepared ;: ■ influenza .serum,; .when injected . into ..the \ tissues, causes Nature; hurriedly to■'.put : forth' an .extra.supply of anti-toxins,' and so.helps ;.to put an, end , to the disease:. The bacilli ■contained in the.seruni-hayingLbeei. killed .by ■ heat;, before .the. vaccine-is ■ injected; .no .further poison? production can take ~place,. the, doctor; absolutely.:; controlling •■.the'- amount<pf-'toxins introduced.'-:-•' ••' -v*- ■ I •■■.^lβ - . very promising, results: were ■ ob;tained .with;the new treatment at ■' 8£ : Mary's;last year, it has;.been.impossible ■to.take up the work again this year until lately owing to the;unusual.freedom?from ; influenza,' London- has been'enjoying.'. :•'.