Abstract: A double blind clinical trial of 10-deazaaminopterin versus the antirheumatoid drug methotrexate (MTX) established that 10-deazaaminopterin, in addition to being at least equally effective as methotrexate in all respects in ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis in humans, it is superior to methotrexate in controlling pain and joint stiffness and in improving grip strength. In accordance with this invention 10-deazaaminopterin is claimed as a more effective disease modifying arthritis remittive drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in humans.

Abstract: Apparatus to receive fecal material directly into a container and maintain it isolated, particularly as to its odors, while automatically homogenizing and withdrawing samples as may be desired and disposing of the remainder. The apparatus, either in fixed or portable form, includes connections to a source of homogenization fluid, a source of cleansing water, and a drain. It also includes means to mix the fecal material vigorously with the homogenization fluid to achieve a substantially homogeneous mixture which can be disposed of with relative ease and which can be sampled into a vacutainer through a vacutainer needle attached liquid-tight to the chamber containing the mixture. For multiple sampling, an automatically operated vacutainer changer brings one vacutainer at a time into position to have a sample of the mixture injected into it. Following such sampling, the apparatus and needle are automatically washed.