New serum-therapy / [D. Montgomerie Paton].

  • Paton, D. Montgomerie.
Date:
1906
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: New serum-therapy / [D. Montgomerie Paton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the lymphatic system. The function of the lymphatics is to resist the entrance of infection, and the glands respond equally to toxin and organism ; but they respond very unequally to different infections, and the efficiency of their defence is similarly irregular. Considering this defence against the organism, it will be found that where the lymphatic defence is efficient, the corresponding antiserum is equally so; and where the defence is strong in its reaction, but only variable in its efficiency, the corresponding antiserum is exactly similar in its therapeutic action. Where the lymphatic defence is of little or no value against the organism which readily finds its way into the system, the corresponding antiserum is of no practical value. In the first class are diphtheria and tetanus, and the serums given in time are as efficient as the normal defence against the invasion of the organism. In the second class antistreptococcic serum and antiplague serum may be placed, and in each of these infections the serums, while of value, only coincide in their value with the unreliability of the lymphatic defence against the organisms. In the third class are typhoid, pneumococcus, tubercle, etc., the lymphatic defence against which is inefficient, and the resulting antiserums correspond. Viewed from this standpoint of origin, many problems of the action and failure of antitoxin and immune body can be readily explained. In view of the result of the investigations which have just been described, this idea makes a harmonious whole.
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