540 1XFECTIOX AID 1MMUMTT. 



destructive action of the toxin on the leucocytes 

 is indicated by the failure of this reduction when 

 the toxin is mixed with the cells. 



Old culture nitrates (two to three weeks) show 

 ******* a rather high degree of toxieity for gTiiwial pro- 

 ducing extensive degeneration of the convoluted 

 tubules in the kidney, a degeneration which is 

 somewhat selective; hemorrhages into the in- 

 testinal mucosa; degeneration of the ganglionic 

 cells, and fever. According to Leradin, a mast- 

 cell leucocytosis develops. The nature of the fever- 

 producing substance is unknown. The toxkaty of 

 nitrates is said to be destroyed by a temperature 

 of 56 C. 



Cultures of the staphylococcus killed by heat 

 show little toxkity, hence the question of the ex- 

 istence of an endotoxin is on no better basis than 

 in relation to the streptococcus. It m possible that 

 the heat required to kill the organisms destroys the 

 endotoxin as well as the soluble toxins mentioned 

 above. The virulence of the organisms has no 

 direct relationship to the hemolysm or lencocidin. 

 or the toxicity of the nitrates. Yery pathogenic 

 draJrn may produce a filtrate of little or no 

 toxkiiy. It seems then that the essential patho- 

 genic agent of the organism is unknown; as in 

 the case of the streptococcus, its inf ectiousne 

 depends on its ability to resist the antibacterial 

 activities of the body (phagocytic and digestive 

 power of the leucocytes and opsonins). The part 

 played by the lencocidin in this resistance is not 

 definitely known. 



The many varieties of the staphylococcus are 

 differentiated on the basis of pathogenicity, pig- 

 ment formation, liquefaction or non-liquefaction 



