DEVELOPMENT OF TETANUS ANTITOXIN FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF TETANUS TOXOID

This communication records the development of tetanus antitoxin in twenty-nine persons following the administration of tetanus formaldehyde toxoid. It will be appreciated that the number submitting to immunization in any one laboratory is much more limited than is the case with diphtheria toxoid, so that an adequate evaluation of tetanus toxoid can be made only by the combined experience from many places. The twenty-nine individuals were adults, two of whom (subjects 5 and 17 in the table) had had a primary stimulus of tetanus toxoid some years previously. The blood of each was tested for tetanus antitoxin before the toxoid was given. Although the testing was carried down to a level of 0.001 unit, only subject 17, who had had a previous stimulus, showed any antitoxin, 0.004 unit, no trace of antitoxin being evident in the other serums. Two lots of toxoid were used. One, given to patients 1 to