CYTOST IN MEDICINE 267 



toxins. There appears to be no reason why this concept 

 should not be carried over to humans. Indeed the fact 

 that patients suffering from various diseases of ob- 

 scure origin are distinctlybenefitedbycytost or chloro- 

 form injections appears to substantiate this conclu- 

 sion. 



With this in mind we may briefly extend the present 

 discussion of the possible application of our experi- 

 mental researches to medicine. For example, let us 

 consider infections of the respiratory tract. It may 

 be recalled that respiratory disturbances of non-bac- 

 terial origin may be easily induced in animals by 

 exposure to cytost-laden air. Once such a disturbance 

 is produced, bacterial infection readily follows. On 

 the other hand, it is by no means easy to induce res- 

 piratory infections in healthy animals not previously 

 exposed to cytost. (Turck, 1919b.) It follows from 

 this that exposure to cytost-laden air may be a predis- 

 posing cause of the onset of various respiratory dis- 

 eases in humans. 



It has frequently been stated that the incidence of 

 respiratory infections is higher in urban communi- 

 ties than elsewhere. This in part is due to greater 

 chances of contact with infected individuals and may 

 in part be due to the fact that in congested areas the 

 air actually contains human cytost sufficient to pro- 

 voke a reaction in the sensitive respiratory endothe- 

 lium of the less resistant members of the community. 

 In favor of this concept is the fact, frequently 

 remarked by Arctic and Antarctic explorers, 

 that respiratory disturbances are exceedingly rare 

 amongst the members of their expeditions. This is 

 especially interesting since during the winter months 



