236 PROTEIN POISONS 



is obtained from all by the same or by like methods. The 

 sensitizing group, being the same in no two proteins, cannot 

 be isolated from all by the same method. We have been 

 able to obtain specific sensitizing groups from colon, typhoid, 

 and tubercle protein quite uniformly. From the pneumo- 

 coccus and related organisms we have never succeeded in 

 obtaining a sensitizing group. From egg-white we have 

 rarely succeeded, generally failed. It seems evident to 

 us that the sensitizing groups in many proteins are highly 

 labile bodies, probably of such delicate structure that they 

 easily fall to pieces. 



If sensitizers are ever to have a legitimate place in the 

 treatment of disease, it will be of the highest importance 

 to obtain them free from the poisonous group. Every 

 time an unbroken protein is introduced into the body it 

 carries with it, and as a part of it, a poison. From the very 

 careless, rash, and unwarranted way in which "vaccines" 

 of most diverse origin and composition are now used in 

 the treatment of disease, this matter certainly cannot be 

 understood or its danger appreciated by those who subject 

 their patients to such risks. It should be clearly understood 

 that all proteins contain a poisonous group a substance 

 which in a dose of 0.5 mg. injected intravenously kills a 

 guinea-pig. This poison is present in all the so-called 

 "vaccines" now so largely used, and it is not strange that 

 death occasionally follows the use of "phylacogen" or 

 similar preparations. Not only do these proteins contain 

 a poison, but when introduced parenterally the poison 

 is set free, not in the stomach, from which it may be removed, 

 but in the blood and tissues. It is possible that vaccine 

 therapy may become of great service in the treatment of 

 disease. Even now there are occasional brilliant results 

 which are reported while the failures and disasters are not 

 so widely advertised. But before sensitization can be of 

 great service in a therapeutical way we must secure sensi- 

 tizers free from poisonous constituents. Until recently 

 the existence of, or the possibility of preparing non-toxic 

 sensitizers has been made evident only by our work. 



