The effect of an injection of mallein on the serum diagnosis of glanders / by J. Basil Buxton.

  • Buxton, J. B. (James Basil)
Date:
[1914?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The effect of an injection of mallein on the serum diagnosis of glanders / by J. Basil Buxton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE EFFECT OF AN INJECTION OF MALLEIN ON THE SERUM DIAGNOSIS OF GLANDERS. By J. Basil Buxton, f.r.c.v.s., d.v.h., The \\ ellcome Physiological Research Laboratories, Herne Hill, London. Since the discovery of the causal organism of glanders by Loeffler and Schutz in 1883, numerous attempts at an improvement in the methods of diagnosis have been made. The only method originally available consisted in the isolation of the infective agent, and was confined to the demonstration and cultivation of the organ¬ ism. Later it was found possible to reproduce the disease by inoculation of infected material into sus¬ ceptible animals, and this method of diagnosis still persists, the guinea-pig being perhaps the most suitable animal for the purpose, and the character¬ istic reaction first described by Straus being re¬ garded as diagnostic of the disease, The most important agent, however, in the diag¬ nosis of glanders was the biological product of the bacillus mallei, generally known as mallein. The method of preparation of this agent, and its efficacy are well known, and while numerous veterinarians on the Continent are dubious as to its general utility, clinicians in this country appear to have obtained more satisfactory results. It is certain that with¬ out the aid of mallein it would have been impossible to have reduced the occurrence of glanders to the state which now exists. Based upon the ophthalmic reaction for tubercu¬ losis, Frohner (11) carried out a number of experi¬ ments with precipitated mallein in the case of glan- dered horses and numerous healthy controls. As a result of his observations he came to the conclusion * Head at the meeting of the Central V.S., held at 10 Hed Lion Square, W.C,, on Thursday, April 2nd.