Blood of Infants with Intestinal Intoxication, ioi 



merits revealed that the extirpation of the prostate exerted no 

 influence either on the behavior or the rate of learning of the 

 animals. Fuller data to appear in the Journal of Urology. 



48 (1630) 



A substance toxic to guinea pigs in the blood of infants with 

 " intestinal intoxication." 



By OSCAR M. SCHLOSS. 



[From the Department of Pediatrics, Cornell University, 

 New York City.] 



Cases of so-called "intestinal intoxication" can be divided into 

 two groups. In the first group there is a history of preceding 

 nutritional disturbance with diarrhea of days or weeks duration. 

 The onset of toxic symptoms is often gradual. The infants are 

 greatly wasted and the tissues show signs of water loss. The 

 blood concentration may be slightly increased but is often normal. 

 The mental state is best described as somnolent. Pronounced 

 nervous symptoms are absent. 



In the second group the onset is usually sudden and preceding 

 nutritional disturbances are slight or may not occur at all. Wast- 

 ing is slight. Diarrhea is usually not severe and in many cases 

 does not occur. One of the striking features of this group is the 

 presence of pronounced nervous symptoms. Convulsions are 

 common and the patient is in deep coma with marked involuntary 

 movements and muscular twitchings. The blood of these infants 

 is much concentrated. The clinical picture, the complete anuria 

 and the high non-protein nitrogen of the blood in these cases 

 strongly suggest a relationship to uremia. The work of Foster 

 on uremia suggested the possibility that the blood of infants with 

 this severe type of intoxication might show the presence of a toxic 

 substance. 



8 to 15 c.c. of blood serum or citrated plasma were dialyzed 

 through collodion against from 50 to 100 c.c. of water for 12 to 

 24 hours. The dialysate was rapidly concentrated in a current 

 of air at a temperature below 40 0 to a volume of 3 to 5 c.c. and 

 injected into the peritoneal cavity of guinea pigs. 



