Concerning the Vitamin C Therapy of Pertussis

1st. Bacteria growth: Vitamin C (Redoxon, L-ascorbic acid sodium (PH 6,4 to 6,6]) was added to solid culture medium (PH 7,0) with different pathogenic bacteria like Pneumococcus, influenza bacilli, coliform bacilli, dysentery bacilli, typhus bacilli, diphtheria bacilli, staphylococcus, streptococcus, meningococcus, B. pyocyaneus, B. subtilis, B. prodigiosus, and bacillus pertussis. It was stated that the growth of only the whooping cough bacillus was specifically retarded by vitamin C, while all other bacteria remained almost uninfluenced. The larger the amount of vitamin C, the clearer the disturbance of the growth of the pertussis bacillus; from a gradual alteration of the bacillus body, to the appearance of regressive metamorphosis, and finally to killing. Vitamin C has therefore a bactericidal effect on the pertussis bacillus. The influenza bacilli, which are difficult to differentiate bacteriologically, were compared in detail to the pertussis bacillus. No development disturbances by vitamin C of the bacillus could be observed, also no regressive modifications or other influences. The fact that the two types of bacteria indicate a clear difference in the influence of vitamin C, can be regarded as method for distinction.