70 ANAPHYLAXIS AND ANTI-ANAPHYLAXIS 



milk we observed that guinea-pigs sensitised with 

 milk are easily rendered anaphylactic if the milk is 

 administered to them by the rectum or the mouth. 

 We were able later to prove the same fact in guinea- 

 pigs sensitised with horse serum: after vaccination 

 per rectum, the animals resisted a lethal dose of serum 

 given intracerebrally. We have not, on the other 

 hand, succeeded in vaccinating guinea-pigs by intro- 

 ducing serum by the mouth. 



However, certain facts observed later in the course 

 of researches on anaphylaxis with egg-albumen, have 

 made us resume the experiments of vaccination by 

 the oral method. The following are the facts: In 

 studying anaphylaxis with egg-albumen, we proved 

 that sensitised guinea-pigs could be submitted to anti- 

 anaphylactic vaccination by the mouth under certain 

 conditions. Thus, when we take a guinea-pig which 

 has been sensitised with egg-albumen, and cause it to 

 ingest 5 ex. of egg-albumen, it remains, at the end 

 of twenty-four hours, as sensitive as before the 

 ingestion of the meal. When submitted to intra- 

 venous or intracerebral injection, it is immediately 

 attacked with anaphylactic symptoms and dies in a 

 few minutes. But if, instead of proceeding to the 

 test inoculation the day after the ingestion, we wait 

 two days, or, better still, three days after the vaccina- 

 ting meal, it is proved that the anaphylactic state 

 has disappeared and has given place to an anti- 

 anaphylaetic condition. 



In presence of these facts relating to egg-albumen, 

 we asked ourselves whether in the old experiments 

 of vaccination by the mouth against serum ana- 

 phylaxis, we should not have been equally fortunate 

 if we had waited longer before proceeding with the 

 test injection. And, indeed, from experiments 

 started along these hues, we have shewn that what is 

 true of egg-albumen holds good in a great number of 



