39 
A second paper by Morax and Marie,® appeared in 1903, in 
which they showed that the affinity of tetanus toxine for the nerves 
seems to be shown in vitro b}^ the experiments of AYassermann and 
is proved in vivo b}^ the presence of this poison in the nerves of 
tetanized animals. It has been definite^ established that it is the 
peripheral expansions of the neurons which absorb the toxine for 
transportation from point to point toward the nerve cell. 
The object vras to determine the respective neurons in this fixa- 
tion and in this transportation of the toxine. The discovery of the 
poison in the nerve areas has shown that the three different types of 
nerve fibers constituting the cord, viz, the motor fibers, sensory, and 
sympathetic, are equally able to absorb the tetanus toxine. The 
considerable portion of this poison found in the massateric nerves 
is in conformity with the early appearance of tetanus in this region. 
The total absence of tetanus toxine in the optic nerves corroborates 
the anatomical findings which show them to be a prolongation of 
the brain, as it is known that the toxine is not found in the medu- 
lary neurons or brain, since it is fixed by them. 
Bhimenthal^ concludes that: 
The cells of the body as well as the central nervous system have the property of 
binding tetanus toxine. 
The tetanus poison is altered in the organism as a_ consequence of this binding with 
the cells. 
There is an affinity of the antitoxin for the tetanus poison which has been bound in 
the tissues. .This affinity is, however, comparatively slight in comparison to that it 
has for the toxine secreted by the cultures. 
Tiberti,^ 1905, concludes as follows: 
If we inject tetanus toxine subcutaneously into susceptible animals, the largest 
part first goes into the lymphatic vessels and from there into the blood. A smaller 
quantity is absorbed by the nerve endings and is carried by them to the nerve centers. 
After h}q)odermic injection of tetanus toxine in a limb the toxine-constant in the 
large nerves of that limb is demonstrable. 
The transportation of the tetanus toxine to the nerve centers by the nerve routes 
takes place not through the lymph channels, but in the plasma of the nerve fiber 
consisting of the axis cylinder. In order that the nerve fibers may be capable of 
taking up the tetanus toxine and conducting it to the nerve centers, it is necessary 
that the axis cylinder be normal. 
The tetanus toxine moves toward the nerve cells because the latter have a special 
affinity for tetanus toxine and in that way the nerve fibers become saturated. 
If tetanus toxine is injected into a muscle it diffuses throughout the muscle itself in 
the serous fluid. It is then taken up by the nerve endings in the muscle and by 
means of the nerves is carried to the center. 
a Morax, V., and Marie, A.; Recherches sur I’absorption de la toxine tetanique. 
Ann. Inst. Pasteur, vol. 17, no. 5, 1903. pp. 335-342. 
^Blumenthal, Ferdinand. — Ueber das an die Organe gebundene Tetanusgift und 
seine Beziehung zum Antitoxin. Arch. f. physiol., 1904, pp. 217-220. 
c Tiberti: Ueber den Transport des Tetanusgiftes zii den Riickenmarkszentren 
durch die Nervenfasern. Centblt. f. Bakt., 1 abt, vol. 38, 1905, pp. 281, 413, 499, 625. 
