ox THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TEPTOXE. 535 



the paper before referred to, concerning Witte's peptone.' It was then 

 found that this substance, in doses of O'l grm. per kilo, retards coagula- 

 tion almost invariably, and the same effect was observed to be the rule 

 with doses as low as one-fifth this quantity. C4rosjean- had also found 

 coagulation to be delayed from one to ten hours by propeptone in doses of 

 0"1 grm. per kilo. Below 0-02 grm. per kilo a hastening of blood-coagu- 

 lation was the rule. 



The I'esult, however, is corroborated by those of Spiro and Ellinger,'' 

 published during the course of this research. These observers found a 

 reduction of coagulation-time from eight to four minutes with a dose of 

 0'6 grm. per kilo. With regard to former investigators, it is to be remarked 

 that PoUitzer'* did not find that anti-peptone (tryptone) produced any effect 

 on the rapidity of coagulation, agreeing in this with Fano.'^ It is pro- 

 bable that neither of these experimenters used very pure products. 



Nor can the hastening effect of Witte's peptone on blood-coagulation, 

 in small doses, be attributed solely to an admixture with anti-peptone, since 

 deutero-albumose in certain doses, as will be shown later, has been found 

 to hasten this process, while in other doses coagulation is markedly 

 retarded. 



(b) On hlood-pressure. — Pollitzer evidently had noted that the effect 

 of anti-peptone (tryptone) on blood-pressure was different from that of 

 albumoses, since he makes an exception of it, stating that its effect is 

 doubtful. In the present research it has been found that anti-peptone 

 in its action on blood-pressure likewise contrasts with other products 

 of proteid digestion. In doses of 02 grm. per kilo, after a very tran- 

 sient fall immediately following the injection, blood-pressure returns to a 

 level, as a rule, somewhat higher than before the injection. This was ob- 

 served also in one of two experiments with doses of 0"3 grm. per kilo each. 

 In the other, the fall lasted somewhat longer, but even here the duration 

 of lowered blood-pressure was very temporary when compared with that 

 of Witte's peptone, minutes as compared with hours. 



Spiro and Ellinger '' also state that they have found essential differences 

 in the effects of this substance, amongst other things, on blood-pressure as 

 contrasted with albumoses. They, however, reserve their results for future 

 publication. It is interesting, as these observers point out, to note the 

 contrast of this substance with that of the albumoses, out of which it 

 arises, in view of the possibility that toxins and anti- toxins are similarly 

 related as to origin. 



(c) On peripheral vaso-motor irritabilifi/. — As might be anticipated, 

 this substance was not found to possess any depressing action on the tone 

 of blood-vessels, either abdominal or general. On the contrary, in many 

 cases a decided increase of irritability was shown. 



' Thompson, op. cit. 



- Grosjean, ' L'action physiologiqne rle la propeptone et de la peptone,' Traraitx 

 du laboratoire de Leon Fredericq, tome iv. 1891-92, p. 45. 



' Spiro and Ellinger, ' Der Antagonismus gerinnungsbeforuender und gerinnungs- 

 hemmender Stoffe im Blut, &c.' Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitsohrift f. ijliys'wlogxsclie Chemie, 

 Bd. xxiii. (1897), Hft. 2. p. 121. 



* Polliczer, ' On the Physiological Action of Peptones and Albumoses,' Jovrn. 

 of Physiology, vii. (1886), p. 283. 



' Fano, ' Das Verhalten des Peptons und Tryptons gegen Blut u. Lymphe,' 

 ArcMvf. Physiol., 1881, p. 277. 



• Spiro and Ellinger, oj). cit. 



