Poisoning from Diphtheria Toxin. 



43 



years of age. On the other hand, it was enormously prevalent 

 and severe in females from twenty to forty, somewhat less preva- 

 lent, but nearly always mild, in children of both sexes from two 

 to ten years, and almost equally prevalent in old people of both 

 sexes. The greatest pellagra morbidity was observed among 

 persons engaged in housework or remaining at home without 

 occupation, indicating that the causative agent or agencies are 

 present in or near the home. Nevertheless, the women mill 

 workers suffered as much as, or even more than, the housekeepers 

 of the same age when due regard is given to the total number of 

 persons thus engaged. 



26 (958) 



The vascular response in poisoning from diphtheria toxin. 



By H. B. Myers and George B. Wallace. 



[From the Laboratory of Pharmacology, University and Bellevue 

 Hospital Medical College.] 



From recent work it would appear that neither the heart nor 

 the vaso-motor center is the chief factor responsible for the circu- 

 latory changes in diphtheria toxin poisoning. The work we have 

 to report is the result of an attempt made to determine what 

 this factor is. 



We have studied first the reactions of the larger blood vessels 

 in poisoned animals. This was done in the following manner: 

 At the height of the poisoning, at a time when the blood pressure 

 was extremely low, the animal was killed, sections of various 

 arteries removed and placed in cold Ringer-Locke solution, where 

 they were kept until ready for use. For comparison sections of 

 arteries from an unpoisoned animal were removed and preserved. 

 A strip of artery from the poisoned animal and one of similar size 

 from the corresponding artery of the normal animal were then 

 prepared, placed in a vessel containing fresh oxygenated Locke's 

 solution, and attached to an apparatus for recording contraction 

 and relaxation. To the solution was then added either adrenalin 

 I : 1,000,000; barium chlorid 1 gm. : 255 c.c, or amyl nitrite 

 (.1 to .3 c.c. in 250 c.c.) and the contraction or relaxation of the 



