PROTEIN FEVER 411 



for by the protein injected. This has been confirmed by 

 the work of Schittenhelm and Weichardt, 1 and as has been 

 stated, we found the same in protein fever. Our explanation 

 for the marked increase in nitrogen elimination has been given. 



In intermittent and remittent fevers and in relapses in 

 all infectious diseases the phenomena of protein sensitiza- 

 tion are fully demonstrated. In the different forms of 

 malaria, chill and fever correspond to the discharge of 

 foreign protein into the blood, just as promptly as anaphyl- 

 actic symptoms follow the injection of the homologous 

 protein in a sensitized animal. The moment the blood 

 cells rupture and the protozoal protein is disseminated 

 the sensitized cells discharge the lytic ferment by which 

 the foreign protein is disrupted and destroyed, but in this 

 process the poison is liberated. 



Local sensitization is frequently established in the mucous 

 membrane of the air passages and of the alimentary canal, 

 also in the skin for two reasons. In the first place, foreign 

 proteins are frequently brought into direct contact with 

 these tissues, and in the second place, foreign proteins intro- 

 duced into the blood are frequently deposited in the skin 

 and in the walls of the alimentary canal. These local sensi- 

 tizations characterize many of the infectious diseases. The 

 work of Dunbar and Weichardt on hay fever is a good 

 illustration. These investigators injected each other sub- 

 cutaneously with minute quantities of pollen suspension. 

 Immediately Dunbar, being a hay-fever subject, became 

 dizzy, and within a few minutes began to sneeze, then a 

 whooping-like cough began. The eyes were congested, and an 

 abundant secretion flowed from the nose. The face became 

 swollen and cyanotic, and soon the body was covered 

 with an urticarial rash. After twenty-four hours these 

 symptoms subsided. Weichardt, not being a hay-fever 

 subject, was not affected. That this and kindred affections 

 are not benefited by antisera was abundantly and positively 

 demonstrated by the failure of the so-called hay-fever 



1 Zentralbl. f. d. ges Physiol. u. Pathol. d. Stoffwechsel, 1910. 



