“... normal phenol serum—phenol with methyl blue dissolved in anaphylactic serum ...”
“... a combination of human or horse serum with Phenol and Methylene-blue, thereby forming a new chemico-biologic product which he termed Methyl-phenol Serum or, chemically, Chloride of Phenol Thionin Tetramethylene-Seric.”
“Methyl-phenol Serum is a chemico-biological product in which Phenol is the chief factor. Each ampule of 10 c.c. contains the therapeutic equivalent of 0.5 gm. (7.5 grains) of Phenol.”
From the foregoing it appears that both preparations contain phenol and methylthionine chloride (methylene blue) and that the second does not contain methyl phenol (cresol) as the name would indicate.
No definite evidence for the value of these preparations is brought forward and even the manufacturer is constrained to caution, “We assume no responsibility for the therapeutic action of the serum....” On the other hand there are a great many statements in the papers of Cano and his colleagues to which exception must be taken. Of these, from among many similar, the following statements are to be cited and commented on:
“Accepting that the gonorrheal infection gives systemic toxemia from absorption of the toxins ...”
It is the general opinion that in the majority of instances there is no systemic toxemia.
“The technique of intraprostatic injection, while less simple than that of the intravenous, is by no means so difficult or complicated as to place it exclusively in the category of the urologist.”
This obviously is an attempt to encourage the general use of these preparations and to minimize the necessity for careful study and special skill in their employment. It is most unwise for one to attempt intraprostatic injections unless he is specially trained in the technique of this procedure.
“This injection to be performed after the 5th or 6th intravenous injection of Methyl-phenol Serum....”