44 PROTEIN THERAPY 



remote Roentgen irradiation on asthma (Schilling-Drey and Losser, 

 etc.), on the hastening of ossification (Stettner), on furunculosis 

 (Schrews), on local inflammatory processes (Kaznelson and St. Lo- 

 rent) , the effect of radium on arthritis, gout, adnexal inflammation, etc. 

 (Gudzent) . 



The shock following actual burns or that following the effect of 

 photodynamic agents such as those introduced and studied by von 

 Tappeiner, has its place in this same category. (Pfeiffer.) 



Biological Alterations. As will be pointed out more fully in the 

 chapter on The Focal Reaction, it is very probable that a variety of 

 alterations in the organism may bring about effects on pathological 

 processes similar to those that we induce artifically with nonspecific 

 injections. The menstrual cycle and pregnancy, chilling, prolonged 

 exercise, intoxication arising from faulty gastrointestinal absorption, 

 starvation, even endocrine disturbance and the effect of nervous excita- 

 tion must be considered from this point of view. 



In a like manner the products of an inflammatory reaction in one 

 tissue may bring about a nonspecific reaction of the entire organism 

 and so alter pathological processes elsewhere. A number of dermatol- 

 ogists have called attention to this possibility in connection with the 

 clinical observation that in extensive luetic or tuberculous lesions of 

 the skin the internal organs are apt to be relatively free from dis- 

 ease. The discussion of these problems will be taken up in a later 

 chapter. 



Depression Immunity. Even acute diseases are profoundly altered by 

 shock effects due to intercurrent conditions. Thus the malarial paroxysm 

 will in the typhoid patient frequently bring about either a temporary or 

 permanent detoxication (Zupnik, v. Miiller and Leiner), and v. Jauregg 

 has even inoculated patients with malarial plasmodia (in cases of paresis) 

 as a therapeutic measure. The acceleration of wound healing after ery- 

 sipelas (Goebel), or the effect of erysipelas on tumor growth, the effect 

 of pregnancy on tumor growth (Slye) are all related phenomena. Morgen- 

 roth, Biberstein and Schnitzer have recently studied immunity conditions 

 bearing on this problem which can only briefly be outlined at this time. 

 They have been experimenting with superinfection or superimposed infec- 

 tion, as this field of investigation has thus far resisted any attempts to 

 harmonize its findings with the prevailing theories in regard to immunity, 

 and as experimental studies in this field seemed to promise good results. 

 They started with the commonly accepted theory that the infected organism 

 acquires an immunity against superinfection, and against a like, super- 

 imposed infection, but they became interested in the investigations of Land- 

 steiner and Finger, who maintain that the organism infected with syphilis 

 is by no means immune to a new syphilitic infection, as has been commonly 

 supposed. Their experiments demonstrated that mice with an experi- 

 mental, chronic streptococcus infection, streptococci being found in the 

 blood and in the organs, possess immunity toward a superinfection with 



