84 TOXIN ES AND ANTITOXINES. 



mgrm., and for a rabbit about (H mgrm. of the organic ash-free 

 substance, containing only a fraction, and possibly only a very 

 small one, of the pure toxine. 



CALABRESE and ZAGAEi 1 assert that it has absolutely no action 

 upon cold-blooded animals, but COURMONT, DOYON, and PAVIOT 2 

 observed paralysis and emaciation in the case of warmed frogs. 

 The action of the toxine corresponds in all essential points with 

 the general effects produced by the living bacilli. Hence it is 

 unnecessary to give an exact description of these symptoms here. 

 We will content ourselves rather with a quite superficial survey, 

 since the symptoms of diphtheria are described in detail in 

 numerous text-books. 



As regards the general action of diphtheria virus, the following 

 points have been recorded : 



One of the most striking symptoms is the considerable en- 

 largement of the blood-vessels, which occurs after a certain 

 period of incubation (vide infra). 



The temperature first rises and then sinks below normal (to 

 25 C.), this being due, according to ARLOING and L/AULANiE, 3 

 to the decrease in the vital energy and the oxidising processes. 

 With very large doses the hypothermia may persist (COURMONT 

 and DOYON 4 ). 



The whole metabolism of animals after poisoning with diph- 

 theria toxine has been studied, with reference to the amounts 

 of chlorine and nitrogen, by PACE 5 and others. One of the 

 phenomena is an extensive decomposition of albumin. 



Special interest attaches to the question whether diphtheria 

 toxine has a directly injurious effect upon the heart's action or 

 not. It is true that collapse of the heart eventually occurs, and 

 that the heart remains arrested in diastole ; but it is not yet 

 decided whether this is not the secondary result of a primary 

 paralysis of the vasomotors. 



KRASSNOW S asserts that the main action of diphtheria toxine 



1 Calabrese and Zagari, " Ricerche sulla tossina ed antitossina difter. ," 

 Giorn. Internaz. di Scienze Mediche, 1895, No. 4, 19-21; Baumgarten's Jb. , 

 1895, 215. 



2 Courmont, Doyon, and Paviot, "Action de la toxine diphte'rique sur le 

 Systems nerveux de la grenouille, &c.," Soc. BioL, xlvii., 210, 1895. 



3 Arloing and Laulanie", " Et. expe'r. sur les troubles imprimes . . . par 

 les toxines diphth.," Soc. Biol, xlvii., 433, 1895. 



4 Courmont and Doyon, " Marche de la temperature dans I'intoxication 

 diphth.," Arch, de Physiol., xxvii., 252, 1895. 



5 Pace, "Influenza della tossine difter.," // Polidinico, 7; Baumgarteii's 

 Jb., 1900, 180. 



6 Krassnow, " Zur Pharmakol des Di.-T.," Wratsche-bnaja Gazetta, 1904, 

 23; Biochem. CentralbL, iii., NO. 304, 1904. 



