The “mixed” vaccines which are discussed in the reports that follow were considered by the Council during the past year because inquiries had been received in regard to them.

In publishing these reports it is desirable that the attitude of the Council toward “mixed” vaccines again be stated. In view of the rapid development of bacterial therapy, the possibility for harm that attends the use of bacterial vaccines and the skepticism among experienced clinicians as to the value of vaccines representing a combination of organisms, the Council has felt that it should scrutinize the claims for such agents with exceptional care and that there should be admitted to New and Non­official Remedies only those vaccine mixtures for which there is acceptable evidence to indicate that the use of the particular mixtures is rational.

In considering the subject the Council has borne in mind the fact that in many institutions in which cases are studied and the results of therapeutic measures carefully observed and controlled, vaccines of any sort are practically never used—certainly here the stock mixed vaccine has no recognition. Experienced clinicians have generally come to the conclusion that mixed vaccines have no specific action and that any effect they may produce is due to a non-specific protein reaction.

As set forth in the reports, in no case was the evidence submitted by the proprietors sufficient to establish the claims made for the preparations. Hence none was accepted for New and Non­official Remedies.

The preparations that form the basis for the accompanying reports are only a few of the many that are being made and sold by some biological houses. Doubtless many of those not dealt with in this report are equally irrational and sold under claims equally—or probably even more—unwarranted than those with which the present report deals.

W. A. Puckner, Secretary.

Mixed Vaccines-Abbott

In response to inquiry the Council undertook a consideration of the following “mixed{”} vaccines sold by the Abbott Laboratories:

M. Catarrhalis-Combined-Bacterin, said to contain killed Micro­coccus catarrhalis, Bacillus Friedländer, Pneumo­cocci, Strepto­cocci, Staphylo­coccus aureus and Staphylo­coccus albus.