TOXINES. 25 



haptophore and ergophore groups which are not united in one 

 complex grouping ; but they have an amboceptor with two hapto- 

 phore groups and a complement, which attaches itself to the 

 complementophile group of the amboceptor after the latter has 

 combined with the receptor of the cells, and thus brings about 

 the hsemolytic action. 



The latest results obtained with cobra hsemolysine lead to the 

 conclusion that this poison actually has some such constitution 

 that it possesses an amboceptor which is seized upon and 

 brought into action, not only by an endo-complement that occurs 

 in the red blood-corpuscles, but also by lecithin (KYES and SACHS). 

 We shall return to this in discussing snake poison. 



Physiological Action of Toxines. Although the primary char- 

 acteristic of each of the bacterial toxines is its specific action upon 

 the organism, as will be described more fully in the special part, 

 they have also certain reactions in common, of which a brief 

 mention should be made. They act primarily upon the general , 

 health, producing weakness, prostration, and eventually collapse, y 

 These phenomena are undoubtedly due, in the main, to a dele- 

 terious effect of the toxine on the heart's action, this effect being | 

 manifested in a reduction in the pressure of the blood, frequently 

 accompanied by a diminution in the rate of pulsation and eventu- \ 

 ally by paralysis of the heart. According to BARDiER's 1 compara- 

 tive experiments, however, individual toxines differ in their action 

 upon the heart. 



Hypothermia, with or without preceding fever ', is an almost 

 invariable symptom. When injected into the skin and the | 

 subcutaneous tissue toxines frequently give rise to infil- 

 trations, abscesses, and necroses. Loss of hair is frequently 

 observed. 



Internal organs, too e.g., the intestinal tract are usually 

 injured (diarrhoea, &c.). Nor does the liver remain unaffected, 

 as has been demonstrated, notably by TEISSIER and GuiNARD. 2 

 CLAUDE 8 has observed bleeding of the gall-bladder. According 

 to PADOA,* the liver acts differently upon different toxines. 

 Thus, while it combines with and lessens the virulence of the 

 diphtheria toxine when introduced into the mesenteric vein, it 

 allows typhus toxine to pass, which acquires a higher virulence 



1 Bardier, "Toxine et Coeur," Soc. Biol., xlix., 311, 1897. 



2 Teissier and Guinard, "Effets des toxines microbiennes," Arch. Med. 

 Exper., ix., 994, 1897. 



3 Claude, "Deux cas d'h^morrhagie de la v^sic. biliaire, &c.," Soc. Biol., 

 1896, 169; Sem. Mtd., 1896, 62. 



4 Padoa, "Ueber d. verschied. Wirkung. des Diphtheric- u. Typhus- 

 toxins," Riform. Med., 1899, No. 26; MalysJb., 1899, 921. 



