Antitoxin 



Preventive 



Treatment. 



Duration of 

 Immunity. 



BACTERIOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL. 



(6.) Degree of affinity between toxin and 

 tissue cells. 



(7.) Amount of toxin taken in ("bound") 

 by the tissue cells outside of a fatal dose. 



(8.) Location of the toxin in the body and 

 the degree of accessability for the toxin. 



The action of antitoxin as a prophylactic 

 treatment is much simpler than when used for 

 curative purposes. The conditions resemble 

 test tube experiments. There has been oppor- 

 tunity for the antitoxin to be distributed by the 

 blood and lymphatic circulation before the in- 

 vasion of bacteria and the production of their 

 toxins. It is able for this reason to meet and 

 combine with the toxin before it reaches the 

 receptors of important cells. The high value 

 which tetanus antitoxin as a prophylactic has 

 attained in recent years is in all probability 

 dependent upon this condition. 



The immunity afforded by administration of 

 antitoxin for prophylactic purposes is short, 

 usually lasting only two or three months. 

 While some of it may be "bound" by the tissue 

 cells, a great deal of it is believed to be excreted 

 in the urine. 



II. ANTIBACTERIAL, OR BACTERICIDAL SERUMS. 



Endotoxins. Investigators have found a large group of 



organisms, which contain toxic products, asso- 

 180 



