396 ACTINOMYCETES. 



According to Dungeren, especially active toxins are ob- 

 tained by the addition of ascitic fluid to bouillon (C. 

 B. xix, 137). The addition of sugar to bouillon is to be 

 avoided (Sprouck, A. P., 1895, 758). So long as bouillon 

 cultures are of acid reaction they contain no toxin ; usu- 

 ally the toxic action corresponds to the increase in alka- 

 linity (Hilbert, Z. H. xxix, 157), but not always (Mad- 

 sen, Z. H. xxvi, 157). According to Roux and Martin, 

 the formation of toxin is favored by the entrance of oxygen 

 (large surface of bouillon). Regarding this point, see 

 also Hellstrom (C. B. xxv, 217). 



The toxins are precipitated by alcohol, and are scarcely 

 at all dialyzable. Precipitates of calcium phosphate 

 (from the addition of calcium chlorid to bouillon) carry 

 them down also. Temperatures above 60° rapidly reduce 

 the toxicity. With alcohol and vacuum apparatus the 

 toxins may be obtained as a powder. Toxins are produced 

 not only upon albuminous, but also upon non-albuminous 

 nutrient media, alkaline urine (Guinochet), and Uschin- 

 sky's nutrient medium (p. 75). According to H. Kossel, 

 the diphtheria toxin is formed in the bodies of the micro- 

 organisms and at once secreted (C. B. xix, 977). 



The bodies of the bacteria contain no large quantity of 

 toxin. Regarding the chemistry of the toxins, see page 73; 

 also, regarding their resistance and other properties, see 

 Fermi (C. B. xv, 303). For the most recently advanced 

 division of the diphtheria toxins by Ehrlich — prototoxoid, 

 syntoxoid, epitoxoid — the original article must be consulted 

 (Deut. med. Wochenschr., 1898, 597). In distinction to 

 tetanus, the emulsion of the brain and spinal cord of sus- 

 ceptible animals has no antitoxic action against diph- 

 theria toxin (Bomstein, Aronson). 



Distribution. — (a) Outside the body : Upon things used 

 by the diphtheria patient (linen, brushes, playthings, walls 

 and floor of room). On the hair of nurses. The air never 



rabbits, pigeons, dogs, cats, rarely guinea-pigs. Most characteristic 

 are the paralyses which first appear after apparent recovery of the 

 animal from the acute symptoms of intoxication (post-diphtheritic 

 paralyses). The susceptibility of animals to the diphtheria poison is 

 much increased by hunger, exhaustion, etc. (Valagussa and Ranel- 



