Botulism. 



47 



increase is still further augmented for a short period after the 

 abscess is incised, but during healing gradually returns to normal. 

 This increased excretion of urinary nitrogen is accompanied by 

 diuresis. 



Acute pancreatitis from injection of bile in the pancreatic 

 duct shows a similar metabolic disturbance. 



Studies on fasting dogs suffering from acute pleuritis, pneu- 

 monia, acute endocarditis and distemper show that marked in- 

 crease in nitrogen excretion is a constant phenomenon in these 

 inflammatory processes. If one infection such as pneumonia is 

 complicated by another infection such as endocarditis, the rise 

 in nitrogen elimination is still further augmented. 



In the above conditions, the blood non-protein nitrogen is 

 increased, although the blood urea tends to remain relatively low. 



These phenomena accompany acute inflammatory lesions 

 caused by bacteria and also sterile lesions induced by an irritant 

 (turpentine). 



From the exudates in acute purulent inflammations toxic pro- 

 teose-like substances have been isolated. 



We wish to assume that the intoxications here studied are 

 associated with a definite proteose intoxication, which is capable 

 of initiating and continuing a profound injury of tissue protein. 

 One index of this protein injury is the great and sustained rise 

 in the curve of total nitrogen elimination. 



29 (1207) 



Botulism. 



By Ernest C. Dickson. 



[From the Division of Medicine of Stanford University Medical 

 School, San Francisco.] 



In a previous report 1 it was shown that the formation of 

 toxin by the Bacillus Botulinus is not dependent upon the presence 

 of animal protein in the culture medium, but that in purely 

 vegetable medium it may be formed with almost equal facility. 

 The report was based upon experiments in which beans and peas 

 were used, but later experiments have shown that corn and 

 apricots are also suitable for the development of the toxin. 



