The social production of novelty: diphtheria serotherapy, «herald of the new medicine»

Abstract

This issue of Dynamis presents a collection of articles on the beginnings of a biological treatment: diphtheria serotherapy. This therapy contributed to a decisive change in public and private behaviours towards cases of infectious/ contagious disease. The phrase «herald of the new medicine», which appears in the title of this introduction, was used by the Spanish Health Council to describe the treatment of diphtheria by serum taken from the blood of immunised horses, i.e., the Behring-Roux method. This new therapy had been reported to the Council by Antonio Mendoza and Manuel Sanz on their return from official visits to Paris and Berlin in Autumn 1894. The description reflects the perception of novelty, of successful innovation generated by their report. Articles by Gabriel Gachelin and Jonathan Simon, respectively, offer a detailed analysis of the French side of the initial production of serum, while Axel Hüntelmann tels the German side of the same story. Annick Opinel addresses the implications of the new therapy for hospital practice in her account of the construction of the Pasteur Hospital, which was designed to fight against diphtheria.