768 TITRATION OF TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS 



converted in this manner into the substance called "anatoxin" by Ramon, The floc- 

 culation method served to measure the immunizing value of these anatoxins as well 

 as to give a general indication of the potency of dysentery antitoxic sera. 



MISCELLANEOUS TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS 



Toxic filtrates of the organisms associated with gaseous gangrene have been used 

 in flocculation tests by Weinberg, Prevot, and Goy (1924). Attempts to measure the 

 potency of the toxins of such organisms as B. oedematiens, B. perfringens, B. histoly- 

 ticus, B. sporogenes, B. putrificus, B. bifermentans , and Vibrion septique by comparison 

 with their antitoxins in flocculation titrations were failures. With the exception of 

 the toxin of B. oedematiens, these filtrates were from five hundred to one thousand 

 times less active than diphtheria toxin; they were weak toxins. When weak toxins, 

 and correspondingly weak antitoxins are used, the bacterial precipitin reaction is pre- 

 dominant. But even in these instances, there was no strict concordance between the 

 antitoxic values and agglutinating titres of the sera. 



The failure of an antiserum which neutralized the hemotoxin of a vibrio to floccu- 

 late when mixed with this toxin is considered by Eisler and Kovacs to indicate that 

 the phenomenon observed by Ramon is merely the familiar bacterial precipitation. 

 Abundant precipitation of bacterial residues occurred in the mixtures of filtrates and 

 antitoxins studied by them, and some of the toxin and antitoxin was removed by these 

 precipitates. Apparently, the flocculation reaction is unsuitable for the titration of 

 anti-hemotoxin with filtrates of the cultures of this vibrio. 



REFERENCES 



Abt, G., and Erber, B.: "Sur le Titrage des antitoxines et des toxines tetaniques par la 

 floculation," Ann. de Vlnst. Pasteur, 40, 659-65. 1926. 



Biicher, S., Kraus, R., and Lowenstein, E.: "Zur Frage der aktiven Schutzimpfung gegen 

 Diphtheric," Zfschr. f. Inimunitdtsjorsch. ti. exper. Therap., 42, 350-6S. 1925. 



Bayne-Jones, S.: "The Titration of Diphtheria Toxin and Antitoxin by Ramon's Floc- 

 culation Method," /. Immunol., 9, 481-504. 1924. 



Bronfenbrenner, J. J., and Reichert, P.: "The Nature of the Toxin- Antitoxin Floccula- 

 tion Phenomenon," J. Expcr. Med., 44, 553-65. 1926. 



Calmette, A., and Massol, L.: "Les precipitines du serum antivenimeux vis-a-vis du venim 

 de cobra," Ann. de Vlnst. Pasteur, 23, 155-65. 1909. 



Danysz, J.: "Contribution a I'etude des proprietes et de la nature des melanges des toxines 

 avec leurs antitoxines," ibid., 16, 331-45. 1902. 



Descombey, P.: "L'Anatoxine tetanique," Compt. rend. Soc. de biol., 91, 239-41. 1924. 



Descombey, P.: "Vaccination du cheval par I'anatoxine tetanique," Ann. de Vlnst. Pasteur, 



39, 485-504- 1925- 



Dumas, J., Ramon, G., and Bilal, Said: "Anatoxine dysenterique," ibid., 40, 134-40- 19^6 



Dyer, R. E.: "Application of the Ramon Flocculation Principle to the Titration of Scarlet 

 Fever Streptococcus Toxin and Antitoxin," Pub. Health Rep. (U.S. Public Health 

 Service), 40, 865-68. 1925. 



Eagles, G. H.: "The Application of the Ramon Flocculation Test to the Toxin and Anti- 

 toxin of Streptococcus Scarlatinae," Brit. J. Exper. Path., 8, 403-12. 1927. 



Eisler, M., and Kovacs, N.: "Untersuchungen iiber das Verhaltnis des Priizipitinogens und 

 Hamotoxins des Vibrio Kadikoj und das Unvermogen dieses Toxins, sein spczilisches 

 Antitoxin zu flocken," Centralbl. J. Bakteriol., Abt. I, 99, 51S-45. 1926. 



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