I IO 



Scientific Proceedings (65). 



paralyzed the action. In all of these cases the protective action 

 of the protein of the intestinal extract must be borne in mind. 



The inhibition by Ca precipitants may aid in explaining the 

 toxicity of these agents for nucleated cells. The fact that while 

 small amounts of Ca seem to be necessary for the action, larger 

 amounts inhibit is of interest in connection with Ca metabolism. 

 Nor can we disregard the fact that many of these substances 

 (oxalate, tartrate, fluoride, uranium salts) produce a tubular 

 nephritis in animals. It would appear that this was associated 

 with a disturbed nuclein metabolism of the epithelial cells, and 

 through this of the secretion of Ca and P, and as other evidence 

 would indicate, of sugar and uric acid also; so that the excretion of 

 Ca for example should be a good index of this function. This 

 view is intimately bound up with the regulation of the blood re- 

 action through phosphate excretion, and probably also to the 

 related secretion of CO2 by the lungs, which, as well as the kidneys, 

 are high in phospho-nuclease. The intertransformation of Ca 

 carbonate and phosphate in the bodies of higher and lower animals 

 is a striking phenomenon in this connection. 



67 (999) 



Studies on so-called protective ferments. VI. On the action of 

 anesthesia in anaphylaxis. 



By J. Bronfenbrenner and M. J. Schlesinger. 



[From the Pathological and Research Laboratories of the Western 

 Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa.] 



It is assumed by Besredka, 1 that the shock in anaphylaxis is 

 due to the direct toxic action of protein split products upon the 

 cells of the central nervous system. Such a view of shock would 

 most satisfactorily explain why anesthesia prevents the shock. 

 The experiments of different authors however have definitely 

 shown that the central nervous system is not primarily, but only 

 secondarily involved in the anaphylactic symptom-complex. 

 They failed however to explain the action of certain anesthetics as 

 preventing shock. 



1 C. R. Soc. Biol., 1907, T. 62. 



