132 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



this fact is placed in contrast with the negative result 

 obtained with peptone. 



One of the most interesting results was obtained by the 

 daily injection of a chemotactic proteid directly into the 

 blood. Before the first injection the proportion of white to 

 red corpuscles was 1 : 318 ; on the second day, 1 : 126 ; on 

 the third, 1 : 102 ; on the morning of the fourth, 1 : 73 ; on 

 the afternoon of the fourth, 1 : 38. After this there was 

 no further increase. The absolute number of red corpuscles 

 remained unchanged, while the absolute number of the 

 white multiplied sevenfold. The white corpuscles were on 

 the first days often found in groups of from two to four, 

 and later, of from ten to twenty. This seems to demon- 

 strate that these substances cause an increased production 

 of leucocytes. General leucocytosis was induced by the 

 similar employment of vegetable casein and an alkaline 

 albuminate prepared from the muscles of a calf. 



Finally, Bdchner tested the action of this proteid upon 

 himself. One cubic centimetre of a very dilute solution, 

 containing 3.5 milligrammes of the solid proteid, was 

 injected under the skin of the forearm with antiseptic pre- 

 cautions. Two hours later there was marked pain along 

 the lymphatics, especially localized in the elbow and axilla. 

 The temperature showed no marked elevation (only 37.8°). 

 On the following day there were marked erysipelatous 

 redness and swelling extending for some inches about the 

 place of injection, and accompanied by severe pain. The 

 inflamed area felt hot, and projected distinctly above the 

 surrounding surface. The lymphatics of the arm appeared 

 like red cords. On the third day the swelling and redness 

 were more marked, and extended from the wrist to the 

 elbow. On the fourth day the symptoms began to recede. 

 Here we have clinically a perfectly typical erysipelas with 

 lymphangitis, and Buchn.er claims that all the cardinal 

 symptoms of inflammation — rubor, calor, dolor — could not 

 be produced without involvement of the solid tissues. 



Similar, but less marked, symptoms were induced by the 

 injection of a dilute solution of vegetable casein. 



BucHNER states that bacteria will not cause inflamma- 



