It has already been reported by the author that the production of antibodies is distinctly accelerated when a bacterial vaccine is applied in combination with the purified vaccinia lymph.
Furthermore, a prompt suppression of paroxysms especially in the case of whooping cough, which can never be explained by the said rapid formation of antibodies alone, ha led us to assume the existence of antiallergic action inherent to the living vaccinia virus.
An experiment to ascertain such influence proved a marked desensitizing action by the anaphylactic shock test upon guinea pigs.
Namely, when guinea pigs, sensitized to horse serum, were treated with a small amount of purified vaccinia virus prior to the provocative dose of horse serum, proved to be exempt from the anaphylactic shock. Purified vaccinia lymph inactivated by heating showed no such effect
The author has also observed that Vitamin B
2 shows antianaphylactic efficacy but not as active as the purified vaccinia lpmph, but superior to Vitamin C.
These findings have led us to examine the effect of purified vaccinia virus on bronchial asthma.
On 85 Patients who have been treated by the author in Tokyo since 1942 will be described at this time.
Of this group, one was a case of cardiac asthma, and 3 were the cases of so-called asthmatic tuberculosis. The age of the treated patients varied from 2 to 66 years old.
Among these cases 34 had anamnesis of so-called infantile asthma, and 11 others were suffering from at the time of treatment. Congenital predisposition to asthma was perceived in 11 cases, the tact which suggests that there may have been a still greater number of similar instances.
Disposition or causes of the seizure considered were exudative constitution, autopoisoning, eczema, nasal catarrh and angina, also inhalation of gases (of charcoal, poisonous, pyrethrinic, etc.), post-operational, exhausting labour, colds, bronchitis, measles, whooping cough and pneumonia. Change of climate, rain or shine, humidity, chill, topographical and housing defeat, malnutrition and especially excessive eating.
Mental and physical exhaustion, menstruation in women, pregnancy, influence of specific allergen, etc., have also been regarded as the possible direct factors.
Seasonal influence seemed to be of special importance; spring and autumn, when a climatic change takes place, particularly during the months of September to November, are conspicuous. However, some may develop paroxysms at any time of the year, while in others it is brought on during the cooler months only or in the summer exclusively.
The duration of the disease was from several to thirty years, and, the effectiveness of the purified vaccinia lymph as to control asthmatic seizure seems unrelated to the history of the disease, including previous treatments.
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