Antiperistalsis in Relation to Tubercle Bacilli. 99 



In a series of tests we found that the least proportion of diph- 

 theria toxin which was necessary to give lasting immunity was not 

 quite harmless in guinea pigs. Thus of four guinea pigs receiving 

 a mixture of i unit plus I L-f the two larger remained perma- 

 nently well, while the two smaller finally died of paralysis. Four 

 guinea pigs receiving one half the quantity of the same mixture all 

 remained alive. Two other series receiving still larger quantities 

 of the same mixture acted as the first lot. Some of these guinea 

 pigs received six months later two fatal doses of toxin without 

 serious poisoning. 



It is interesting to note that three of these animals received 

 repeated injections of toxin in increasing amounts, until finally 

 6,000 fatal doses were given in one injection. The blood of the 

 animals at this time contained from 25 to 30 antitoxin units per 

 cubic centimeter. It is possible that the toxin used in these experi- 

 ments which was produced by Culture No. 8 may have more tend- 

 ency to promote late paralysis than that from other cultures such 

 as used by Smith. 



49 (387) 



Antiperistalsis in its relation to tubercle bacilli and other bac- 

 teria in the alimentary tract. 



By ALFRED F. HESS. 



[^From the Research Laboratory of the Departvmit of Health, New 



York CityJ] 



Fifteen years ago Griitzner showed that charcoal, starch and 

 similar substances when introduced in normal salt solution into 

 the rectum, ascended in the intestinal tract and after from four to 

 six hours could be demonstrated in the stomach. His work was 

 confirmed by some and refuted by others. This problem has of 

 late assumed a new aspect inasmuch as some workers have 

 claimed that when bacteria are introduced in the same way, within 

 a short time they ascend by means of the antiperistaltic action of 

 the alimentary tract to the stomach, oesophagus and thence into 

 the respiratory tract. The most recent report of this phenomenon 

 comes from the Kaiserliche Gesundheitsant, which concludes that 

 this antiperistaltic movement must be considered, not only in exper- 



