SHOCK 35 



as a result of bacterial growth may act as local irri- 

 tants and thus initiate a series of events similar to those 

 observed in the experiments with mustard. This was 

 pointed out by the author thirty-five years ago. 

 (Turck, 1896.) 



The accumulation of such toxins in the stomach 

 may result in atony, splanchnic congestion, and even- 

 tually in collapse. This was shown experimentally 

 as follows: 



The stomach contents were withdrawn from a pa- 

 tient suffering from gastritis with marked distention, 

 who had fasted for fourteen hours. The fluid was 

 filtered through paper and then passed through a 

 Pasteur filter, the sterility of the filtrate being checked 

 by a control culture. A portion of the filtrate was then 

 injected subcutaneously into rabbits. Within half an 

 hour the animals showed paralysis of the hind legs, 

 the toxic ef^fect resembling that observed in rabbits 

 bitten by venomous snakes. Injection of a further 

 quantity of the filtrate caused the death of the animal 

 within three hours. Injection of the stomach contents 

 of healthy individuals does not elicit such marked 

 symptoms. (Turck, 1896.) 



The normal healthy stomach is not a satisfactory 

 environment for the growth of microorganisms. 

 However, any factor which causes a marked irritation 

 of the stomach mucosa results in an exudation of a 

 sticky material which accumulates upon the stomach 

 wall. The author found this to be an excellent cul- 

 ture medium for various bacteria known to occur 

 in the stomach. Apparently in situ the mucin deposit 

 protects the organisms from the action of the hydro- 

 chloric acid of the gastric juice. Cultures from such 



