ANAPHYLAXIS 59 



are susceptible to the emanations from horses. This wilJ not 

 explain all cases however. The scientific world is beginning to 

 consider the contraction of any infectious disease as an evidence of 

 anaphylaxis on the patient's part to the causative agent. 



In experimentally induced hypersusceptibility the reaction is 

 specific. The condition is transmissible from mother to fetus 

 and it can be transferred from adult to adult passively by injecting 

 the blood of a sensitive animal into a normal one. The first dose 

 is called the sensitizing one, the second the intoxicating. The 

 incubation period of the sensitization varies with the nature of the 

 protein; for horse serum it is from eight to twelve days, for bacterial 

 proteins from five to eight days. The sensitive period may last 

 for several years. In searching for the cause of this reaction it was 

 found that there are (i) a spastic distention of the pulmonary alveoli 

 probably both of central and local nature, (2) scattered hemorrhages 

 in the organs and (3) hemorrhages with ulcerations in the gastric 

 mucosa. There have been many theories for this phenomenon, 

 but those of Vaughan, Friedberger and Wolff Eisner- may be con- 

 densed and compounded about as follows. The body is unprepared 

 to care for parenterally (otherwise than gastrointestinal tract) 

 introduced protein and must develop an anti-body or enzyme to 

 care for it. This enzyme or anti-body works slowly and carefully 

 disposes of the foreign protein, the products of which are slowly 

 absorbed and removed. In accord with the overproduction theory 

 this anti-substance is in large quantity when another introduction of 

 protein occurs, and goes to its work with avidity so that it rapidly 

 breaks the protein up into toxic elements which cannot suddenly 

 be cared for by the body. These protein toxins attack nervous and 

 parenchymatous tissues. 



It has been shown that an anti-anaphylactic state can be pro- 

 duced by repeated small injections of protein at intervals too short 

 to allow incubation of an intoxicating dose. 



Friedberger has used these facts to elaborate a theory of infection. 

 He believes that bacteria circulating in the body stimulate anti- 



