Abstract
The method of preparing antisera consisting of the use of formalinized sediment of 18-hour pneumococcus broth culture injected intravenously into horses is one in general use. The comparison of the therapeutic value of such antisera on the basis of their relative mouse unit content has been generally adopted.
A previous communication by one of us 1 demonstrated the possibility of producing a potent antiserum by means of the injection of pneumococcus pleural exudate intravenously. This was based on the hypothesis that such an antigen was likely to contain products from both the invading organism and the reacting tissue of the host, and would therefore be more nearly comparable to that produced under natural conditions during the disease itself.
Knowing that animals under immunization respond with a greater concentration of antisubstances when soluble antigens are injected intramuscularly than when administered intravenously, it was decided to immunize horses by means of phenolized pneumococcus pleural exudate intramuscularly and formalinized sediment of 18 hour broth culture intravenously.
The sera of horses thus immunized have been tested by the mouse protection test, and fall in 2 groups, those of high, unit value and those of low unit value.
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