296 



Society Proceedings (122). 



and 0.1 c.c. of antigen. Increasing the amount of antigen beyond 

 this relation tends to delay precipitation, while the employment 

 of equal amounts of serum and antigen will inhibit the reaction 

 in some cases. 



133 (1880) 



The use of morphine in connection with serumtherapy of botulism. 



By J. BRONFENBRENNER and H. WEISS. 



From the Department of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Harvard 

 Medical School, Boston, Mass.] 



Some time ago 1 we have observed the delay in the rate of absorp- 

 tion of botulinus toxin in the animals subjected to ether anesthe- 

 sia. Combining ether anesthesia with the specific serum therapy, 

 we have been able to save animals poisoned with botulinus toxin 

 where antitoxin alone failed to do so. 



In view of the fact that the application of ether anesthesia 

 in cases of botulinus poisoning in men would be difficult on account 

 of the pronounced respiratory distress present as a predominant 

 symptom in such cases, we have attempted to find a satisfactory 

 substitute for ether anesthesia. 



Among various substances thus far tried with various degrees 

 of success, morphine seems to give the best results. Thus, one- 

 quarter of a cubic centimeter of botulinus toxin (125 M.L.D.) 

 given by the mouth causes death of a guinea pig of 250 grams in 

 from 10 to 12 hours. The administration of an excess of anti- 

 toxin intracardially does not save the animal if more than three 

 hours have been allowed to elapse between the feeding of the 

 toxin and subsequent injection of antitoxin. 



If guinea pigs of 250 grams are similarly fed with 125 M.L.D. 

 of botulinus toxin and if 0.02 gram of morphine is given to them 

 subcutaneously (in 10 per cent, solution) soon after feeding of the 

 toxin, such guinea pigs die in from 26 to 46 hours if not given any 

 antitoxin. Thus 0.02 gram of morphine delays the death from 

 botulinus poisoning and more than doubles the length of the life 

 of the animal. If antitoxin is introduced intracardially into such 



1 Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol, and Med.. 1921, xviii, 253. 



