NATLIRE OF THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLES ^Og 



amount may be obtained on the smtace ot tlie bacterial cell or 

 lollowino- extraction ot the bacillary l)ody. Similar observations 

 can be made in connection with the active principles of the 

 jihenomenon. The bacterial autolysis is not necessary for prepara- 

 tion of active principles of high potency. Fluid cultures of B. 

 lyjj/iosiis incid^ated for several days and undergoing a great deal 

 of autolysis, usually yield active principles lOO times weaker than 

 filtrates of \vashings of gTo^vth on solid mediimi incubated for 

 only twenty-four hours with little autolysis. CiUtmes of meningo- 

 coccus in enriched mediinn and incubated for periods as long 

 as seven days and subjected to alternating freezings and tliaw- 

 ings, ha\e irregidar and low potency. Washings of yotnig ciUtmes 

 on agar may produce hltrates potent in dilution as high as 1:4000. 

 The first washins^ of a oiven number of meningococcus cells is 

 approximately 1000 times stronger than that of the disintegrate 

 of the same number of cells dissolved in the same volume of NaCl 

 solution. Evidently, therefore, the major portion of the active 

 principles is obtained in the surrounding fluid and in the first 

 \vashing of the organisms. To all intents and purposes the active 

 })rinciples of the phenomenon may be considered soluble to the 

 same extent as true toxins. As in the case of B. diphtJieriae and 

 other true toxin producers, the possibility is not excluded that a 

 certain amount of toxic principles may be obtained in cell autol- 

 ysates, as in experiments of Burnet (1931) , in ^vhich un^vashed 

 cell suspensions were treated by the method of I^esredka, or in 

 meningococcus extracts of Malcolm and White (1932) . It is only 

 obvious that the product produced by bacteria may be found 

 not only in the smrounding fluid but also on the surface of the 

 bacteria and inside of the bacteria. The fact remains that the 

 active principles of the phenomenon, as well as true toxins, are 

 easily dispersed into the sinrounding fluid. The observations, 

 although serving to some extent the purpose of classification, are 

 more important in indicating that localized lesions caused by 

 bacteria capable of j^roducing the active principles of the phenom- 

 enon may l3e responsible for general toxemia and may have effects 

 upon distant organs. 



The active principles of the phenomenon of the nature de- 

 scribed are obtained not only from bacteria in Avhich no true 

 exotoxins have as yet been demonstrated, or the demonstration 

 of such toxins still remains unquestionable, but also Avith such 

 bacteria which in recent years were added to the list of true 



