116 INFECTION 



symptoms after a certain period; these are due to the action of tetano- 

 spasmin upon motor nerve-cells, and are characterized by hyper- 

 sensitiveness, clonic convulsions, and rigidity of the muscles. In man 

 the symptoms of tetanus are similar to those in the animal, the spasm 

 starting quite regularly in the muscles of the lower jaw. 



Experiments by Wassermann and Takaki have demonstrated that 

 an especially close affinity exists between tetanus toxin and certain 

 structures, particularly that of the central nervous system. Most 

 writers agree that the toxin reaches these tissues largely by way of the 

 nerve-paths. 



3. Botulism Toxin. This poison is generated by the Bacillus bot- 

 ulinus, first isolated, by Van Ermengem in 1896, from a ham during an 

 epidemic of meat poisoning. It is the cause of a type of meat and sau- 

 sage poisoning called botulism, more frequent in those countries where 

 raw meat is eaten, and frequently confused with "ptomain poisoning." 



The bacillus is a motile, spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium, which 

 grows at room temperature and causes marked gas formation in glucose 

 media. 



The toxin is readily produced in anaerobic alkaline bouillon cultures. 

 It is quite labile. 



Symptoms of botulism appear only after a definite period of incuba-> 

 tion, which varies from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. In contra- 

 distinction to the meat poisonings produced by other organisms, those 

 due to Bacillus botulinus may show few or no symptoms directly re- 

 ferable to the intestinal tract, the chief symptoms being due to toxic 

 interference with the cranial nerves: loss of accommodation, ptosis, 

 dilated pupils, aphonia, dysphagia, and hypersecretion of mucus from 

 the mouth and nose. 



Guinea-pigs are quite susceptible, and may be infected by way of the 

 mouth. The symptoms of intoxication usually follow in twenty-four 

 hours, and are characterized by motor paralysis, dyspnea, and hyper- 

 secretion of mucus from the nose and mouth. 



4. Dysentery Toxin. The distinct types of dysentery bacilli vary 

 exceedingly in their powers to produce toxins, the strongest poisons 

 being produced with bacilli of the Shiga-Kruse variety, less regularly 

 active ones, with bacilli of the Flexner type. 



Investigations have shown quite conclusively that dysentery itself 

 is a true toxemia, its symptoms being referable to the absorption of the 

 toxins of the bacillus from the intestine. Flexner, who has studied this 

 subject with great care, believes it probable that most of the pathologic 



