ANAEROBIC TREATMENT OF WOUNDS 223 



work on the proteolysis of the vegetable tox-albumens, 

 ricin, abrin, &c. If this be true, it is evidence of a very 

 generalized power of protein-attack in our bacillus. 

 To make the matter more certain, the toxoclastic effect 

 of (comparatively) pure tryptic enzymes has been 

 tested, with precisely similar results. The view we 

 have suggested is borne out by such results. The 

 earliest effect in the wound is apparently the breaking 

 down of the tox-albumens, with the consequent im- 

 mediate release of the body from intoxication, long 

 before the process of removal of devitalized cell-tissue 

 is completed. With such an agent septic infections 

 hardly matter, they are cut off behind and before, and, 

 if taken soon enough, get no chance even to establish 

 themselves, no matter how virulent they be. The his- 

 tological observations of Bashford show that the cocci 

 and cerobic bacilli infest the upper layers of dead 

 substance in septic wounds, but that the chief seat of 

 anaerobic organisms is below them, next to the unin- 

 jured cells, forming, as the Reading bacillus literally 

 does, a screen between the system and the other 

 bacteria. 



Clearly we have in these observations of toxolysis 

 a phenomenon of much wider import than that which 

 concerns wound treatment only. The therapeutic 

 significance of these results yet remains to be seen, 

 but if bacterial toxins can be neutralized by the 

 action of tryptic enzymes it opens a new field for re- 

 search which may well prove of the greatest value to 

 humanity. 



Among the very various antiseptics applied to wound 

 treatment, one only stands out by virtue of its proteo- 

 clastic properties. This is Eusol, a solution of chlori- 

 nated lime and boric acid, which has only very slight 

 germicidal powers, 1 but which proves unusually suc- 



1 Given a solid meat pabulum, Reading bacillus will grow in the presence of 



