SPECIAL TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS 275 



latter. Giving the toxicity of 100 parts of ethyl alcohol as 100, 

 then 47 parts by weight of isopropylic alcohol, 29 parts of 

 Isobutylic alcohol and 12.5 parts of amylic alcohol were found to 

 DC isotoxic with that quantity of ethyl alcohol. 



The term toxin, more accurately speaking, applies to poisonous 

 substances elaborated by bacteria and which require an incuba- 

 :ion period before forming antibodies or antitoxins. The toxins 

 :ormed by the bacterial group appear to be intimately associated 

 rtdth the life processes of the living cell, but their chemical com- 

 position remains thus far unknown. We know that they are very 

 eadily destroyed by heating (60 to 80 C.) and that they are 

 :hemically very unstable, and that they are among the most highly 

 poisonous agents known to science. They are far more toxic than 

 ;he potent vegetable alkaloids and animal toxalbumins, as is shown 

 n the following tabulation (Jordan): 



Atropine, fatal dose to man 130 mg. 



Strychnine, fatal dose to man 30-40 mg. 



Cobra venom, fatal dose to man 4-375 m g- 



Tetanus toxin, fatal dose to man o. 23 mg. 



Various animals produce toxalbumins or toxins, as snakes 



rotalin, viperine), scorpions, tarantulas, the Gila monster and 



ther lizards. Rattle-snake venom evidently possesses a variety 



properties. It will agglutinate blood, neutralize the fibrinogen, 

 emolyze red corpuscles, and is highly neurotoxic. Within recent 

 ears antibodies have been produced against these several toxic 

 ibstances. 



Muscarine, the toxic agent of Amanita muscaria (fly agaric), is 

 i alkaloid which acts very quickly, whereas the toxic agents of 

 manita phalloides and A. verna are toxin-like in that there is an 

 cubation period of from 10 to 14 hr. before the toxic symptoms 

 egin to manifest themselves. They are strongly hemolytic. It 



supposed that the pollen grains of certain flowers contain toxin- 

 ce substances to which certain persons are peculiarly suscepti- 

 e. All toxalbumins or toxins, whether derived from bacteria, 

 19 



