146 Production of a Specific Gastrotoxic Scrum. 



(7.) LESIONS IN THE GUINEA-PIG'S STOMACH DUE TO CAUSES OTHER 



THAN HAEMOLYSIS OR GASTROLYSIS ARE OCCASIONALLY SEEN. 



If the stomachs of a large number of normal guinea-pigs are 

 :ined regularly, there may occasionally be seen patches of con- 

 gestion in the mucous membrane ; sometimes haemorrhages are present, 

 and in two cases I have found ulcers. What the pathology of this 

 condition is does not seem quite clear, but probably the ulcers are of 

 haemorrhagic origin. 



In two cases of septic peritonitis in guinea-pigs 1 have found 

 haemorrhage into the stomach and small intestine. On microscopic 

 examination they present a very typical appearance, the blood being 

 extravasated into the substance of the mucous membrane, and 

 exhibiting quite a different appearance from patches of necrosis. 



(8.) CONCLUSIONS. 



(a.) On either intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection of the 

 stomach cells (or a fresh extract of them) of the guinea-pig into the 

 rabbit, the blood' serum of the latter becomes highly toxic for guinea- 

 pigs. 



(6.) The serum leads to death on injection into the guinea-pig and 

 causes necrosis of the mucous membrane of the stomach, leading to 

 ulceration and haemorrhage. 



(c.) The toxin contained in the serum consists of at least two 

 factors : (1) A specific Gastrolysin, which leads to necrosis ; (2) A 

 Haemolysin which assists in producing haemorrhage. The hsemolytic 

 factor can be removed, leaving the gastrolytic, which still produces 

 stomach lesions. 



(d.) The gastrolysin is a specific cytotoxin and consists of an immune 

 body and a complement. 



(e.) The gastrolysin does not visibly affect the cells in vitro. 



(/. ) The gastrolysin does not produce necrosis in the stomach of the 

 animal which has elaborated it, possibly owing to the concomitant 

 formation of an anti-immune body. 



(g.) By injection of the stomach cells of the rabbit into the rabbit 

 a gastrolysin is formed which causes necrosis in the guinea-pig's 

 .stomach ; it therefore possesses at least two cytophilic affinities. 



(h.) By injection of the stomach cells of the guinea-pig into the 

 guinea-pig a gastrolysin is formed which causes necrosis in the stomach 

 of the rabbit ; this gastrolysin is probably of a similar nature as the 

 preceding. 



/:.) The importance of the above conclusions with regard to the 

 pathology of human gastric ulcer lies in the fact that an animal can 

 elaborate in its blood by the absorption of the cells of a similar animal, 



