300 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. 



mal; as a result the receptors were overproduced 

 and their presence became manifest when the 

 serum was injected into other dogs. In accord- 

 ance with this view the original toxic cause of a 

 degenerative nephritis would be of less conse- 

 quence for the continuance of the condition than 

 the formation of the nephrotoxic amboceptors ; i. e., 

 the formation of an autonephrotoxin. 



Somewhat similar results were obtained by oth- 

 ers through ligation of the renal vein or artery on 

 one side. Constituents of cells of the isolated kid- 

 ney were supposed to be absorbed,, and as a conse- 

 quence nephrotoxic amboceptors were produced in 

 excess by organs of uncertain identity. To the 

 action of the new-formed bodies were attributed 

 the degenerative changes which were found in the 

 opposite kidney, and the nephrotoxic properties 

 which the serum manifeested when injected into a 

 healthy animal of the same species. 



According to Ascoli and Figari unilateral neph- 

 toxin, cardiac rectomy so iniuies the opposite kidney (overwork) 



Hypertrophy. J * iu i t, I. 



that the serum 01 the animal becomes nephrotoxic. 

 They state also that an animal,, the serum of which 

 contains nephrotoxin, may antagonize the latter 

 by the production of antinephrotoxin, and suggest 

 that spontaneous recovery from nephritis may be 

 due to the action of such an antibody. They would 

 account for the cardiac hypertrophy of nephritis 

 by the action of nephrotoxic serum in causing con- 

 traction of the peripheral vessels with consequent 

 increase of blood pressure; and for the nervous 

 symptoms on the basis that the serum contains a 

 neurotoxic constituent. 



We hardly dare consider such far-reaching con- 

 clusions as decisive until they have been extensively 



