C^IIAI'll R X 



NATURE OF THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF 



THE PHENOMENON OF LOCAL TISSUE 



REACTIVITY 



SlIMMAKN OF Mi IIIODS USFD IN THF, l'R< )DrCTI()N OF THE 

 PHENOMENON 



In this and subseqnent chapters attempts will be made to 

 define within the limitations of onr present knowledge the nature 

 of tlie phenomenon of local tissue reactivity. This necessarily 

 involves comparative sttidies on the relation of the phenomenon 

 under consideration to bacterial toxins, anaphylatoxins and 

 anaphylaxis. In the following studies on the relation of the ac- 

 tive principles of the phenomenon to bacterial toxic substances 

 the accepted arbitrary division of toxins into exotoxins and endo- 

 toxins is adopted; in addition, comparisons are made with certain 

 other bacterial toxic stibstances ^vhich cannot be classified as either 

 exotoxins or endotoxins (Zinsser's x-substances) . 



A tabidation of the various methods by means of which the 

 phenomenon of local tissue reactivity may be produced is given in 

 Table x, pages 296-300. 



RELATION OF ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF THE PHENOMENON 

 TO EXOTOXINS 



As pointed out by Wells (1929), Zinsser (1931), Maitland 

 (1931) , Prigge (1932) and others, the definition of toxins l3e- 

 came rather vague in recent years. The vie^v firmly held for a 

 number of years limited the term toxins to a group of substances 

 of the follo^ving characteristics: 



They produce direct local and general injury in the animal 

 body; they reproduce the symptoms and pathological changes of 

 the corresponding infection after a characteristic incubation pe- 

 riod; they stimulate formation of antitoxins ^vhen injected into 

 large animals; they possess certain definite physico-chemical 

 properties ^vhich relate them to enzymes. 



The recent investigations have demonstrated the existence of 



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