tOxins and antitoxins. i»l 



the animal toxins. They are met with, never- 

 theless, in almost all mushrooms which are reputed 

 or known to be toxic ; the seed of the castor plant 

 contains a very toxic vegetable albuminoid, as is 

 likewise the case with Abrus precatorius (jequirity- 

 bean), and certain others. 



The true physiological toxins occupy a very 

 important place in the realization of the condi- 

 tions that govern health, sickness, and death. 



We wiU see later on that they are met with in 

 quite large number in the bladder, whence they 

 are voided in the urine. Their number varies con- 

 siderably, according to diverse influences (waking, 

 slumber, eating, fasting, fatigue, oxygen, brain- 

 work, health, disease, etc.). It is necessary here to 

 observe that the renal system serves for the puri- 

 fication of the entire organism, and that in the 

 case of normal life we will find in the renal system 

 a large portion of the products of the cellular secre- 

 tion of the organism, and among the number there 

 are found, as we know, a certain number of alka- 

 loidal bases. We will take up later the subject of 

 urinary toxicity. 



Autointoxications. — The toxins are also en- 

 countered, and often in some number, in the mus- 

 cular tissues and in the blood, particularly in those 

 of batrachians, mureids, and saurians. In the 

 organism these toxins, developed by the activity 

 of the various cells, may cause autointoxication 



