204 



Scientific Proceedings (68). 



influences causing thyroid involution may be transmitted by the 

 same means; (b) that while these observations do not affect the 

 question of the existence of specific secretory fibers, they demon- 

 strate that such fibers are not essential in order that thyroid tissue 

 may exhibit the characteristic morphological and physiological, 

 changes known to be associated with great variations in functional 

 activity; (c) that these data emphasize the necessity for additional 

 evidence on the question of specific secretory fibers for the thyroid. 



123 (1055) 



On the action of sodium chloride in the prevention of proteotoxin 



shock. 



By Hans Zinsser, Charles C. Lieb and James G. Dwyer. 



[From the Departments of Bacteriology and Pharmacology, College of 

 Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York.] 



It was shown by Friedberger and Hartoch that guinea-pigs 

 could be protected against anaphylactic shock by an intravenous 

 injection of hypertonic salt solution immediately preceding the 

 toxic dose of antigen. That this protection is not due, as Fried- 

 berger and Hartoch claimed, to the inhibitory action of the salt on 

 the alexin was demonstrated by Ritz, who found that an injection 

 of salt also exerted protective action in animals injected with 

 proteotoxins (the anaphylatoxins of Friedberger). 



Dale concluded that the protection afforded by sodium chloride 

 against acute anaphylaxis was due to the decreased irritability of 

 the smooth muscle. He found that if the uterus of a sensitized 

 guinea-pig were suspended in hypertonic salt solution, the addition 

 of the antigen no longer caused the usual anaphylactic reaction. 

 Other stimulating substances, like pilocarpine and pituitary 

 extract, also failed to produce their typical stimulation provided 

 that the uterus was bathed in hypertonic salt solution. 



It is the object of the present investigation to show that, when 

 a preliminary injection of salt protects against proteotoxin shock, 

 the absence of reaction is due to the lessened irritability of smooth 

 muscle. 



In the first place, it was necessary to confirm, if possible, the 



