96 ANTIGENS AND ANTIBODIES 



Asiatica and related organisms, the plague bacillus, and the bacillus 

 of symptomatic anthrax are known or supposed to form true toxins 

 even though to a limited extent only, but for the reasons just indicated 

 the corresponding antitoxic sera are of little avail in the treatment 

 of the corresponding maladies. 



Interesting from theoretical grounds is the fact that many other 

 true toxins have been discovered which are not of bacterial origin. 

 To this category belong certain snake poisons (venin), the phryn- 

 olysin found in the skin glands of toads (Bombinator igneus) and 

 salamanders (Sieboldia), a poison obtained from special glands of 

 certain fishes (Trachinus,) the arachnolysin of various spiders (Latro- 

 dectes and Eperia), the poison of wasps and bees, the ichthyo toxin 

 which is found in the serum of the eel, and possibly also the toxin 

 producing fatigue, which, according to Weichardt, is formed in 

 the muscles after severe exercise (kenotoxin). In addition to these, 

 certain toxins produced by higher plants are recognized as possessing 

 true antigenic properties, such as the ricin obtained from the seeds 

 of the castor-oil bean (Ricinus communis), the abrin of the jequirity 

 bean (Abrus precatorius), the crotin of croton seeds (Croton tiglium), 

 the robin obtained from the bark of the Robinia pseudacacia, and 

 the phallin of the poisonous mushroom Amanita phalloides. 



All these substances are characterized by their poisonous nature 

 and the fact that their introduction into the animal organism, in 

 suitable dosage, gives rise to the production of corresponding anti- 

 toxins which in turn have the power of neutralizing the toxic effect 

 of the substances that gave rise to their formation. 



Bacteriolysins. Closely following upon the discovery of the anti- 

 toxins came the work of Pfeiffer and his pupils on the bacteriolysins 

 (1894), viz., antibodies which result upon immunization (vaccination) 

 with various bacteria and which possess the property of causing the 

 dissolution of the corresponding organisms (Pfeiffer' s phenomenon). 

 Antibodies of this order are notably produced against certain vibrios, 

 such as the vibrio of cholera Asiatica, the vibrio Metschnikoffi and 

 related forms, against the typhoid and paratyphoid bacillus, the 

 colon bacillus, the dysentery bacillus, the Bacillus pyocyaneus, the 

 influenza bacillus, and the bacillus of bubonic plague. 



When these substances were first discovered it was hoped that the 

 corresponding bacteriolytic sera would be found to possess curative 

 properties analogous to those of the antitoxic sera, but it was soon 



