264 PROTEIN POISONS 



Arthus and Brim 1 studied the microscopic changes in 

 the tissues in this reaction. A fluid containing a few poly- 

 nuclear leukocytes first infiltrates the subcutaneous tissue. 

 Later, the infiltration approaches the surface, and forms a 

 line of cleavage between the stratum corneum and the 

 stratum lucidum. The subcutaneous connective tissue is 

 converted into a homogeneous mass, and there are extrava- 

 sations of blood. Finally, the process leads to necrosis with 

 a sharp line of demarcation. "It is an aseptic necrosis 

 which first involves the connective tissue and vessels, and 

 finally the epidermis." 



From a study of the Arthus phenomenon we draw two 

 conclusions: (1) A prolonged period of incubation is not 

 necessary in order to induce the anaphylactic state. Such 

 a period is necessary in order to secure the explosive mani- 

 festation of anaphylaxis, but the development of the 

 specific "antibody" begins soon after the first injection of 

 the anaphylactic protein. (2) There is no such thing as a 

 condition of antianaphylaxis. If there were, certainly 

 animals which are receiving daily injections should manifest 

 it, but the only effect is to suppress the explosive character 

 of anaphylaxis. We will return to these questions when we 

 take up the theories. 



Anaphylaxis and Toxic Sera. It is well known that a 

 single injection, even in very small amount, of certain 

 sera into animals of another species proves fatal. One of 

 the most highly poisonous sera is that of the eel, a very 

 minute quantity of which injected into a guinea-pig causes 

 death. Doerr and Raubitschek 2 have studied the toxic 

 and anaphylactic effects of eel serum on guinea-pigs. They 

 find that heating this serum to 58 destroys its toxic action. 

 A single dose of this heated serum has no apparent effect 

 upon guinea-pigs, but does sensitize them so that a second 

 dose of the same is followed by anaphylactic shock. This 

 demonstrates that the toxin and the anaphylactogen of eel 



1 Compt. rend, de la Soc. biol., 1903, 1478. 



2 Berl. klin. Woch., 1908, No. 33. 



