ANTITOXIC SERA 53 



tries. The form of bacillary dysentery met with in 

 the United States is usually due to the mannite- fer- 

 menting or Flexner type of organism, which will be 

 dealt with in the chapter on antibacterial sera. 



Antibotulism Serum. — Meat poisoning is due in 

 many cases to a toxin produced by the Bacillus botu- 

 linus. This organism is anaerobic, and depends for its 

 action upon an extracellular toxin. This toxin can be 

 obtained artificially from bouillon cultures of the or- 

 ganism. The Institute for Infectious Diseases in 

 Berlin has produced an antitoxin by immunization of 

 animals, but data are still insufficient to pass judg- 

 ment upon its curative properties. 



Antiphytotoocic Serum, — Many forms of hay fever 

 are manifestations of anaphylaxis or hypersensibility 

 to the pollen of certain plants, such as golden-rod, rag- 

 weed, honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, etc. Dunbar has 

 produced an antitoxin, known as " pollantin," by in- 

 jecting horses with extracts from various pollens. The 

 antitoxin is put up in liquid form for inoculations, in 

 powder form for local application. In certain cases the 

 antitoxin gives protection and relief, but as a rule only 

 for a limited time. Its use is occasionally attended 

 by severe symptoms of anaphylaxis, so that caution 

 must be observed in beginning treatment with it. 



Antivenin, — Antivenin is an antitoxic serum pre- 

 pared to counteract the effects of snake poison. The 



