26 "TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS. 



I have, however, elaborated several speculative 

 ideas regarding this subject.* 



We must here call particular attention to the 

 ideas of Ehrlich regarding the constitution of the 

 toxins. According to this scientist, their molecules 

 contain two functional groups; the one, to which 

 he has given the name " haptophore," is that 

 which enables the toxin to attach itself to any 

 cellular element whatever, and which it then 

 renders non-toxic by means of the other, or " toxo- 

 phore," group. We will particularize farther on 

 regarding this very important conception. 



Origin of the Toxins.— These toxic bodies result 

 either as the products of the secretion of microbial 

 life, or as the result of the normal functionation of 

 cellular life in the higher vegetable or animal 

 organisms. 



They are the direct products of life, and do 

 not result, as was formerly believed, from a more 

 or less profound modification of the more or less 

 complex albuminoids that serve as a food for the 

 various species of microbes, or for the cellular ele- 

 ments. 



The vegetable toxins are less numerous than 



* Pozzi-Escot: Nature des Diastases. Published by J. 

 Rousset, Paris, 1903. See also Recherches de la Nature Chi- 

 mique des Diastases Oxydantes. Revue gin^r. de chimie, vii, pp. 

 129-136; and Aperfus sur la nature chimique des Diastases, 

 Bulletin de V Association de Chimistes, 1904, p. 769. — Propri^t^s 

 Catalytiques de Quelques Diastases; Ibid., 1904, p. 1247. 



