INFLUENCE OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 183 



When we consider the infinitely small quantities of our 

 bacterial antigens which proved active in our trials (200 to 

 300 mg., and even less in Observation 6), we might assume 

 that the tissues destroyed by cauterization or by injections, 

 and later resorbed, act as antigens; but even then we would 

 still have to explain the nature of the reactions caused by 

 these antigens. The problem would be shifted, but not 

 solved. 



We have seen above, in the section on anesthesia, in the 

 experiment of Roux and Besredka, in Kendall's experiment, 

 how predominating the role of the nerve centers is in all 

 preventive, curative or pathologic reactions. 



In these cases, the action of the nerve centers on the 

 symptoms, and sometimes on the deeper causes of lesions is 

 indisputable, and as it must be admitted in comparing the 

 results obtained by bacterio- and reflexotherapy, that in 

 both methods the nature as well as the mechanism of the 

 curative reactions must be the same. 



The injections of antigens, as well as the cauterization of 

 the terminations of the trigeminal, cause local curative 

 reactions by the excitation and the reflex action of certain 

 nerve centers. 



In the cases treated in our laboratory and by our colla- 

 borators, nearly identical results have been obtained by 

 autogenous or heterogeneous preparations. 



Diseases apparently as different as psoriasis, eczema, 

 enteritis, asthma, jaundice or chronic appendicitis have 

 been treated with equal success by the same heterogeneous 

 preparation. 



From the point of view of the theories of immunity and 

 anaphylaxis, as well as from that of the therapeutic indica- 

 tion which may result, it is therefore very important to note 

 that in the diseases considered (and probably in many others) : 

 the curative reactions are not determined by the chemical 

 affinities which may exist between the curative substance, 

 the pathogenic agent and the diseased tissue or the antibody 

 produced, but by an elective action of the curative product 

 on the nerve centers. 



If the anatomy and the physiology of the nerve cells were 



