OTHER TOXINS. 425 



tiples a fatal amount of endotoxin is present. 

 Although a strong antitoxin may be obtained, it 

 would appear to be of little practical importance 

 because of the rarity of infections by the bacillus. 



Infection in man has caused the formation of 

 agglutinin in several instances, but it has been i 

 absent in others. An agglutinating serum is read- 

 ily produced by artificial immunization. 



V. OTHER SOLUBLE BACTERIAL TOXINS. 



Soluble toxins, of perhaps secondary impor- 

 tance, which are produced by the staphylococcus 

 and streptococcus, will be considered in the sections 

 dealing with these organisms. It seems probable 

 that they do not represent the essential toxic 

 agents of the cocci, but rather that the toxicity of 

 the latter depends chiefly on the action of endo- 

 toxins. 



B. INTOXICATION BY SOLUBLE PLANT TOXINS. 

 I. HAY FEVER. 



Dunbar separated from the pollen of various 

 grains a toxin which is able to precipitate typical 

 attacks of hay fever in those who are susceptible, 

 having first demonstrated that the crude pollens 

 cause the disease. The pollen from the following 

 are said to contain the toxin : Eye, barley, wheat, 

 maize (corn), dog's tail, couch-grass, millet, rice 

 and some others. The so-called autumn-catarrh 

 which is common in America may be due to a 

 slightly different toxin coming from the golden- 

 rod, rag-weed, and perhaps other autumnal flower- 

 ing grains. 



The toxin usually is associated with certain The Toxin. 

 starch-like granules which are contained in the 



