PNEUMOCOCCIC PNEUMONIA OF TYPE XIV IN CHILDREN TREATED WITH SPECIFIC SERUM

Physicians who have seen prompt termination of pneumonia and reduction in deaths and complications induced by adequate doses of specific antipneumococcus serum are impressed by the value of this method of treatment. However, acceptance of this therapy for children has been slow because of alleged dangers and difficulties and because the mortality of the pneumonias is considerably less among children than among adults. Because of this skepticism, the alternation of specific serum therapy among children was continued at Harlem Hospital until statistical evidence of its value was available in an adequate series of cases. After the frequency of type XIV pneumonia in children was learned, therapeutic serum was prepared in horses by the Department of Health of New York city. The observations recorded here, which bring up to date observations previously reported elsewhere, have extended over ten years.

Therapeutic serum was administered when available, to alternate patients, even though the