The German Government has taken up the sale of this as a specialite for tuberculosis since February, 1891; it is to be obtained now under the name of Tuberculin, in tubes.

It is a brownish neutral liquid, slightly frothing, soluble in water. It consists, probably, of ptomaines of the tubercle bacilli; gold cyanide to colour it, and glycerine as a preservative, possibly also peptones. It owes its almost lethal activity probably either to an animal alkaloid or ptomaine, or to a protein body (a tox-albumen or globulin) which may produce ferment or, as a snake poison, blood-coagulation and death.

Therapeutics

The first maximum dose to be injected is 0.001 cc. or 1 1/2 minims of a 1 per cent, solution at intervals of 1 day; then to be increased gradually to 0.1 cc. (about 1 1/2 minims) or 1 cubic centimetre (16 minims) of a 10 per cent, solution. As a diluent, use carbolic acid solution of 0.5 per cent.: to make a 10 per cent, solution of Lymph, use 1/2 fl. drm. of latter to 4 1/2 f1. drms. of the diluent: throw away latter when turbid.

Take temperature every three hours, as when above 102°F., dose should not be increased, but safer not to give another injection till temperature has fallen to under 100°F. The spectum must be examined for tubercle baccilli, and the remedy suspended if haemoptysis, heart troubles, diabetes, intestinal perforation, etc, appear. - Therapist, March, 1891.

Tuberculin Syringe