ANTI-TOXINS 67 



ently has an inferior valency, or combining power. If however, it 

 meets the toxin before it reaches the nervous system, it, by its 

 receptors, binds the haptophores, and this prevents any combina- 

 tion of the toxophores with the receptors of the nervous system cells. 



In general, anti-toxin is effectual if administered when acute 

 toxic manifestations of the disease are in evidence. It has been 

 found by Calmette and McFarland that if dried tetanus anti-toxin 

 is sprinkled over wounds infected with tetanus bacilli, or impreg- 

 nated with toxin, that it acts in a very prompt and effectual and anti- 

 dotal way. 



If the toxic symptoms appear shortly after the infecting wound is 

 received it is well known that the prognosis is extremely grave. In 

 such cases, and in those that come to the care of the physician late 

 and after the toxic symptoms have appeared, the anti-toxin must 

 be used in large amounts directly about the wound to neutralize 

 the uncombined toxin, into the general circulation and directly into 

 the nervous tissues or into the ventricle of the brain, in the hope that 

 the excess of free receptors of the anti- toxin may engage the hapto- 

 phores and toxophores of the toxin molecule already attached to 

 the receptors of the nervous cells in the floor of the fourth ventricle. 



Streptococcus Anti-toxin. While there are at least several 

 strains of streptococci, it is a fact that the toxins produced by all 

 have the same charactertistics and properties. The toxin is of 

 the nature of a diastase, which is destroyed by a temperature of 

 70 C. In addition to the ferment of a diastatic nature others of 

 haemolytic power are formed. This is called streptococcolysin and 

 it is said by Reudiger to possess both haptophorous and toxophor- 

 ous chains in the toxin molecule. It is also destroyed at 70 C. 

 Jaundice and petechial rash is often found in streptococcic infec- 

 tions. It causes a blood stained oedema and exudate at the site of 

 infection in rabbits killed by the injection. 



The anti-toxin is prepared by injecting horses with living cultures 

 of very virulent streptococci, beginning with small doses and increas- 

 ing them gradually. The last dose administered in the immunizing 



