SUMMARY. 143 



natures. Such bodies are undoubtedly formed by patho- 

 genic bacteria, and several different kinds, differing in their 

 pathogenic effects, may be produced by one bacterium. 

 While digestion of albumins by pathogenic bacteria does 

 occur, the toxicity of the products of such digestion may be 

 due to the true toxines being merely adherent to such 

 products. The ultimate true toxines may not present the 

 properties of albumin, peptone, or albuminate. In some 

 cases the bacterial product primarily concerned in toxine- 

 formation is very probably a ferment, which secondarily may 

 give rise to non-diastatic bodies which are active toxic 

 agents. Further, poisons formed within the bacterial cell 

 may, during the life of the bacterium, only to a small 

 extent, diffuse into the surrounding fluid. Finally, the 

 action of every species of bacterium must be studied by 

 itself, as the pathogenic modus operandi probably differs in 

 different cases. 



