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Farther Studies of Gastrotoxic Serum. {Progress Report.) 

 By Charles Bolton, M.D., Eesearch Scholar of the Grocers' Company. 



(Communicated by Professor S. Martin, F.R.S. Received June 10, — Read 



June 27, 1907.) 



(From the Pathological Department, University College Hospital Medical School.) 



[Plate 7.] 



In two (1 and 2) previous communications to the Royal Society I was able 

 to demonstrate the production of a gastrotoxic serum by the injection of the 

 mucous membrane of the stomach of one animal into another. In this way, 

 a heterogastrotoxin was formed by injecting the stomach cells of the guinea- 

 pig into the rabbit, and an isogastrotoxin by injecting the stomach cells 

 of the rabbit into the rabbit. I also showed that a human gastrotoxin 

 could likewise be produced by injecting human stomach cells into another 

 animal. 



The heterogastrotoxin possesses poisonous properties for the tissues of the 

 variety of animal whose stomach has been used for injection, but the 

 isogastrotoxin does not. The latter, however, is toxic for the tissues of a 

 nearly allied animal. 



The gastrotoxin, on injection into an animal for which it is poisonous, 

 produces necrotic patches in the mucous membrane of the stomach, which 

 develop into ulcers. In the test-tube the serum also produces effects upon 

 the tissues of the animal concerned. It was proved to be of a complex 

 nature, and to be capable of effecting the following reactions :— 



1. Haemolysis of the red blood corpuscles. 



2. Precipitation of the soluble proteids of the stomach cells, and also 



of other proteids of the body. 



3. Agglutination of the gastric protoplasmic granules. 



4. A more or less definite hyaline transformation of the intact gastric 



cells. 

 The present communication will deal with the four following points : — 



1. The multiplicity of the precipitins. 



2. The identity of the substances producing the precipitating and aggluti- 



nating reactions. 



3. The production of immunity to the gastrotoxin. 



4. The rdle which the gastric juice plays in the actual formation of the 



necrotic patches and of the subsequent gastric ulceration. 

 vol. lxxix. — b. 2 Q 



