58 POISONOUS PKOTEINS 



dergoes autolysis and that the autolysates are 

 fatal to guinea-pigs. He believes that the au- 

 tolysis of this organism is not due to enzyme, 

 but results from a disruption caused by the ab- 

 sorption of water by the cells. 



Parenteral Protein Digestion. 



We now distinguish between enteral and pa- 

 renteral digestion. We take diverse proteins 

 into our alimentary canals and through the ac- 

 tivity of the enteral digestive ferments they are 

 split into amino acids which are utilized by the 

 body cells in growth and in function. This is 

 the normal way in which the body cells of the 

 higher animals are fed, for the most part at 

 least. Under normal conditions the amount of 

 protein reaching the blood and lymph undi- 

 gested is small and negligible in effect. Minute 

 bits of unbroken protein may find their way into 

 the circulation through the respiratory and di- 

 gestive tracts. These, entering through the 

 respiratory organs, may cause local sensitiza- 

 tion which manifests itself in the complex of 

 symptoms usually designated as hay rose or 

 horse-fever and asthma. Those passing in un- 

 digested forms through the walls of the ali- 

 mentary canal may lead to the untoward ef- 

 fects of certain articles of diet and possibly 



