Subcutaneous injections of chaulmu gra-oil beneficial. At first it was ad ministered by the mouth, 30 to 35 drops for a dose, but the nausea and vomiting, to which it gave rise eansed subcutane ous injections of 75 minims of the steril ized oil to be substituted. During six years five hundred and eig,lity-four injec tions Ivere given, and the patient ap peared to bc cured. T. Bey (Indian Med. Becord, June 13, 1900).
In a case successfully treated by Iles nier in the manner just outlined, the tient, unknown to his physician, had also taken for a period of three years chlorate of potassium, 15 grains three times a day. Interesting in tbis con nection is the following observation by Carreau, and the results obtained by Dyer with Calmette's antivenine.
In a leper who was bitten by a rattle snake a manifest diminution of the lep rous tubercles took place before death, twenty-four hours after the bite. Becog nizing the fact that the acknowledged result of inoculation of serpent-poison was to produce a condition of meat-Nilo globimemia, heavy (loses of potassium chlorate were tried in several eases of leprosy. From 150 to 300 grains of the drug were given daily for three days, producing grave symptoms of poisoning therewith, but after the disappearance of these symptoms the leprous tubercles al most entirely disappeared, leaving- the skin soft and wrinkled. Carreau (Pro vincial Med. Jour., Mar. 1, '93).
The antivenomous serum of Calmette, of Lille, was employed by Dr. I. Dyer, of New Orleans, in the treatment of lepers, with promising results. It was injected under the skin with a Pravaz antitoxin syringe. The dose varied from 13 minims to 2 1/2 drachms. The injec tions were made every second day at first, subsequently every day. The parts of the body selected for injections were in the gluteal muscles and the skin in this region, the interscapular spaces, and, ex ceptionally, the leprous lesions them selves.
In a case of leprosy Calmette's .serunt ontirinincita. was administered subcu taneously by means of a Pravaz syringe, —as- a rule, in the loose tissue of the interseapular region and in other selected places. In addition to the serum, the patient was kept on large doses of hoang nan during the entire treatment. The patient was treated with antivenomous senun from August 19th to October 17th, during which time 500 cubic centimetres of serum were used in forty-seven injec tions. -Maximum injection, 20 cubic
centimetres; minimum, 2 cubic centi metres.
The present condition is one of great improvement. over ber face and ears there is a marked loss of infiltration. The bluish color of her face has changed to a healthy red. Her eyes are clear and bright. There are no sores on any por tion of her body. There is only one tubercle remaining, and this has proved somewhat obstinate, despite frequent local injections. Her anwsthesia has dis appeared and her skin bas become softer and fairer. She has gained fourteen pounds in weight, and her general health is excellent. R. S. Woodson (Treatment, Jan. 11, 1900).
In four out of the five cases in which this procedure was resorted to marked improvement WaS obtained.
Serum-therapy has been tried by Carasquilla in one hundred cases with "good results," but the method has not, as yet, received sufficient trial to merit more than a mention. The same may be said of Merck's serum, tubercle-juice, and Coley's erysipelas toxins recently tried.
IIorses immunized w ith blood-serum from lepers by injecting 15 to 60 cubic centimetres every ten days ou three occa sions, and ten days after the third injec tion the serum is taken. The scrum, taken with great care, is then employed as follows: In a leper from whom blood to the amount of 150 to 250 cubic centi metres has been drawn, 1 to 5 cubic centi metres of horse's serum is injected after five days; a second injection is made three or four days later, according to the degree of reaction, then a third and a fourth; in some subjects reaction does not take place till after this period. The reaction manifests itself by fever, circu latory disturbances, changes in the secre tions, etc. After some day-'s the leprous lesions undergo somewhat rapid modifi cation; the tubercles desquamate and shrink, the ulcerations become vegetating and cieatrize. The disturbances of sensi bility are lessened, and, when the lesions are not too far rdvanced, improvement takes place rapidly, and to an astonish ing degree. One hundred eases treated by this method with good results. earns quilla (Brit. Med. Jour.; Correio Med. de Lisboa, xxv, 122, 124, '06).