432 Chapter XIII 



in the body, there has been an inclination to assume that these 

 organs might also fulfil an antitoxic role against microbial poisons. 

 The hypothesis was advanced that this function might be shared 

 by the suprarenal capsules with the thyroid gland and with certain 

 other problematical organs. We have already stated (Chapter v) 

 that the suprarenal capsules, in some experiments where spermo- 

 toxin was injected into rabbits, exhibited a certain antispermotoxic 

 [453] power. But, up to the present, no exact fact has been observed that 

 would favour the idea of an antitoxic action of the above-mentioned 

 organs against bacterial toxins. Roux and Vaillard 1 , in their great 

 work on tetanus, have made experiments in this direction, but their 

 results did not justify them in giving a positive answer to the 

 question. 



Nature does not make use of antiseptics to protect the skin and 

 the mucous membrane. The fluids which moisten the surface of the 

 mouth and of other mucous membranes are not microbicidal, or 

 are so to a very slight degree, and then rather of an exceptional 

 nature. Nature rids the mucous membranes and the skin of a large 

 number of micro-organisms, eliminating them by epithelial desquama- 

 tion, and expelling them along with fluid secretions and excretions. 

 Nature, like the doctors of the present day who replace antisepsis of 

 the mouth, intestine, and other organs by washing with pure physio- 

 logical saline solution, has chosen this mechanical method. She 

 avails herself of the help of inoffensive micro-organisms to prevent 

 pathogenic micro-organisms from taking up their abode in these 

 positions, and she is constantly sending to all the mucous membranes 

 and the skin an army of mobile phagocytes which explore the ground 

 and rid it of micro-organisms. When these begin to get more 

 numerous the phagocytic reaction becomes more intense. A struggle 

 takes place between the two living elements phagocytes and micro- 

 organisms. In those cases where the animal remains unaffected the 

 former gain the upper hand. 



1 Ann. de I'Inst. Pasteur, Paris, 1893, t. vu, p. 65. 



