TYBOTOXISMUS. 



211 



proved to be correct, and it was furthermore found that the bacillus 

 produces a toxin almost as poisonous as that of the tetanus bacillus, 

 inasmuch as it requires only 0.0005 mg. to kill a rabbit in twenty-four 

 hours. The microorganism has been designated as bacillus botu- 

 linus, and its poisonous product as botulismustoxin. Marinesco' 

 found that when this toxin is administered by mouth to cats it 

 causes mydriasis, partial paralysis, aphonia, impossibility of deglu- 

 tition, and muscular weakness. He found that the lesions induced 

 by this toxin are confined largely to the cells of the gray matter of 

 the cord. With very small doses the lesions consist of a rarefac- 

 tion of the chromatophil elements. Under the influence of larger 

 amounts of poison the granules of Nissl undergo more or less 

 marked disintegration or chromatolysis. When fatal doses are ad- 

 ministered some of these cells will be found to be completely de- 

 stroyed. Brieger and Boer^ have prepared this toxin by their 

 method of precipitation with chlorid of zinc, but were unable to ob- 

 tain it in a pure state. Apparently it belongs to the albumoses, 

 and Kempner ' has prepared a specific antitoxin by immunizing ani- 

 mals to the toxin. The last-mentioned observer, together with Pol- 

 lak, has confirmed the microscopical studies of Marinesco and fur- 

 thermore has demonstrated that, under the influence of the antitoxin, 

 cells which have been injured by the toxin show visible evidence of 

 repair. 



Tyrotoxismus. — In 1827, Hiinnefeld made analyses of poisonous 

 cheese and experimented with extracts upon the lower animals. He 

 accepted the ideas of Kerner in regard to poisonous sausage in a 

 somewhat modified form, and thought the active agents to be sebacic 

 and caseic acids. About the same time, Sertiirner, making analyses 

 of poisonous cheese for Westrumb, also traced the poisonous principles, 

 as he supposed, to these fatty acids. In 1848, Christison, after re- 

 ferring to the above-mentioned work, made the following statement : 

 " His (Hiinnefeld' s) experiments, however, are not quite conclusive 

 of the fact that these fatty acids are really the poisonous principles, 

 as he has not extended his experimental researches to the caseic and 

 sebacic acids prepared in the ordinary way. His views will probably 

 be altered and simplified if future experiments should confirm the 

 late inquiries of Braconnot, who has stated that Proust's caseic acid 

 is a modification of acetic acid combined with an acrid oil." In 

 1852, Schlossberger made experiments with the pure fatty acids and 

 demonstrated their freedom from poisonous properties. Since the 

 overthrow of the fatty acid theory various conjectures have been 

 made, but none worthy of consideration. 



' Comptes rendus de la Societe de Biologie, 1896. 



* Deutsche med. WocherisBhrift, 1896. 



'BeuUche med. Wochmschnfi, 1896 ; Zeitsehrift f. Eygime, 26, 481 ; 27, 213. 



