586 (V . 1 N Th'o-ix Ti:^ ri vi /, '•. i ltoix toxic. i tiox" 



and luilk products. Thus Clairinoiit and Raiizi "" found lieat-resistant 

 toxic substances in the intestinal contents in ileus (experimental), and 

 similar substances could also be obtained b}' growing cultures of the 

 intestinal contents on bouillon. Another explanation is that many 

 unidentified poisonous substances are produced in the alimentary 

 canal which ordinarily are destroyed, but under certain conditions 

 may be reabsorbed. That unrecognized toxic substances are formed 

 in the intestines is almost certain, for it has been repeatedly shown 

 that extracts of the contents of the alimentary canal are very poison- 

 ous. Although the teehnic of many of these experiments has been 

 questionable, the results have been obtained so often as to render it 

 probable that the main contention is correct."^' Thus ^lagnus-Alsle- 

 ben '^"'^ has found in the upper part of the small intestine of dogs (ex- 

 cept when on milk diet) a very poisonous substance which killed rab- 

 bits by respiratory paralysis, but which is inert when injected into the 

 portal vein. Extracts of the wall of the large intestine are also toxic, 

 and lose their toxicity at 60°, by passing through porcelain filters and 

 by treatment with alcohol ; extracts of fetal intestines are not toxic 

 (Distaso)."^ 



Whipple "" has demonstrated that closed duodenal loops in dogs 

 come to contain a highly toxic substance of unknown nature, appar- 

 ently formed in the epithelium of the gut rather than in its contents, 

 which causes severe splanchnic congestion, vomiting and diarrhoea 

 when injected into normal dogs. The agent is not destroyed hy 

 autolysis, filtration or heating at 60°, yet dogs can be made somewhat 

 immune. The origin and nature of this poison have not yet been de- 

 termined, but it seems probable that it is an important factor in the 

 intoxication of intestinal obstruction. Apparently the liver does not 

 have much detoxicating ett'ect, for dogs with p]ck fistula behave much 

 the same when the intestine is obstructed as normal dogs. A similar 

 material cannot be obtained by hydrolysis or autolysis of normal duo- 

 denal mucosa, the obstruction being an essential feature. Obstruction 

 of lower portions of the intestine has much less effect,'^ and it has 

 been suggested that the poiscm formed in the duodenum is neutralized 

 or destroyed farther down in the intestine.^- 



In any case, correctly or incorrectly, a great num])er of disease con- 

 ditions have been attributed to poisons of gastro-intestinal orig'in, 

 including not only such minor conditions as headache, nuilaise, lassi- 

 tude, etc., but also sciatica, tetany, epilepsy, eclampsia, many forms 

 of dermatitis, various forms of nervous diseases, myxedema and cretin- 



"« Arch. klin. Chir., 1904 (73), 090. 



(17 For example, see Roijer and (ianiicr, Coiiipt. I\eiul. Soc. IJiol., 190.") {'i9) , 

 388 and f)74 ; 190(1 (60), CM). 



OS IlofmeiBter's Beitr., 190.5 (fi), i)0.'l. 



If Zcit. Inimunitiit., 191:5 (10), 400. 



■'I \\liil)j)le. Sloiie and Bcrnlieini. .lour. K\]H'r. ^\^H\.. 19l;i (17), 280. 



71 See liimtiii^'. .(..iir. K\]u-v. Mod., 1 9 1 ;i (17). 192. 



72 Maury, .\iiici-. .Idiii-. Med. S.-i., 19i)<l (l;i7l, 72'). 



