The virulence of diphtheria-like organisms : a note on the intracutaneous test / by A.J. Eagleton and E.M. Baxter.

  • Eagleton, A. J.
Date:
[1921?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The virulence of diphtheria-like organisms : a note on the intracutaneous test / by A.J. Eagleton and E.M. Baxter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Reprinted from the British Medical Journal, May 28th, 1921. THE VIRULENCE OF DIPHTHERIA-LIKE ORGANISMS. A NOTE ON THE INTRACUTANEOUS TEST* BY A. J. EAGLETON, M.D.Lond., AND E. M. BAXTER, M.Sc.Sheffield. or testing the virulence of diphtheria-like organisms, inglier and Soletsky1 described a method of intra- itaneous injection which was a modification of that riginally described by Neisser. They advocated tlie icthod on the grounds of economy, and stated that in 3 cases it gave the same result as the subcutaneous iethod. These authors usually tested four strains on ich pair of guinea-pigs. We have been using a similar test for some months, id are submitting our experience of it in the hope that it ay prove useful to the many public health pathologists England who are working in the same field. The odifications we have introduced are as follows: 1. Standardization of inoculum by opacity. 2. Inclusion of a known virulent strain in each test. 3. Injection of control animal on the preceding day. 4. Administration to the unprotected animal of a “ following dose ” of antitoxin of such a size that the skin reactions are not obscured while the life of the guinea-pig is saved. The technique of the test is as follows: nwo guinea-pigs are used for each test; both must be partially ite. Protecting Dose.—One animal is given 500 units of diphtheria ;itoxin by intraperitoneal injection on the day preceding the t. This animal acts as a control. ^reparation of Inoculum.—The test strains and a known fulent diphtheria bacillus are grown eighteen hours on fifier slopes, emulsified in saline, diluted and standardized opacity so that the suspension contains approximately fifty llion organisms per cubic centimetre. * From the Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories. 14/21]