CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 125 



possible bit of blood is removed, infusions of certain tissues 

 will still be found to contain the antitoxin. 



It has been claimed that a toxin can be converted into an 

 antitoxin by means of electricity, but Vaughan and Novy dis- 

 proved this. 



The bacteria themselves are not responsible for the produc- 

 tion of the antitoxin ; they simply elaborate the toxin, which 

 must be held responsible for the production of the antitoxin. 



Emmerich and Loew believe that the bacterial enzymes are 

 really the antitoxin. These enzymes are not eliminated, but 

 accumulate in the blood, thus conferring the immunity. 

 Experimental investigation has disproved this theory. The 

 quantity of enzymes formed is insufficient to account for the 

 large amount of antitoxin. 



Hankin calls the antitoxic substances defensive proteids. 

 He classifies them according to the method of their produc- 

 tion and their action on either the toxin or the germ. Those 

 found in animals that are naturally immune he has named 

 sozines. The phylaxins are responsible for artificial immunity. 

 The prefixes myco- and toxo- are used to indicate whether the 

 defensive action is against the germ or its toxin. These 

 proteids are the same as those Buchner terms alexins. They 

 probably are retained within the bloodvessels for an indefi- 

 nite length of time, as they do not dialyze. Yet Ehrlich 

 has shown that tetanus antitoxin is excreted by the mother's 

 milk without in the least lessening the immunity of the 

 mother, thus making it extremely probable that there is a 

 continuous production of the protective material. 



The chemical composition of the antitoxic substances is not 

 known, except that they are extremely stable. They are much 

 more resistant than the alexins. When exposed to a tempera- 

 ture of 60 C. for a short time only, they remain unchanged. 

 They resist putrefaction, artificial light, and sunlight, and 

 can be kept for a long time. The various antiseptics 

 usually added to the antitoxic sera do not affect them in any 

 way, and are added simply to prevent contamination and 

 putrefaction. The antitoxins are very resistant to carbolic 

 acid, trikresol, chloroform, and formaldehyde. The addition 

 of alcohol precipitates the albumins and deprives the serum 



