232 MICROBES AND TOXINS 



of a guinea-pig they are of course incapable of producing an 

 infection, but as they contain the typhoid endotoxin the 

 animal dies nevertheless from the intoxication. But if before 

 the injection the peritoneum is "prepared" so that the 

 bacteria at once meet with a great number of vigorous leuco- 

 cytes the poison is absorbed by these and the animal is saved. 



A staphylococcus habituated to the rabbit by the method of 

 passages, secretes a poison which is very injurious to the 

 leucocytes of this animal ; but if along with the staphylococci 

 vigorous living leucocytes are injected into the pleura, the 

 rabbit is protected against the intoxication (Bail and Weil). 



Immunity against toxin therefore can be reduced, lilce the 

 immunity against bacteria, to the simple fact of phagocytic 

 digestion. Metchnikoff finds himself justified in the light of 

 all these experiments, in thinking that it is the phagocytes 

 which take Up poisons and which perhaps themselves elaborate 

 the antitoxins employed in serotherapy. 



