Am.  Jour.  Pharm.l 
May,  1899.  / 
Pharmacological  Notes. 
233 
the  antibodies  the  same  as  the  essential  toxin.  As  a  diphtheria 
bouillon  culture  stands,  the  toxin  diminishes  while  the  toxoids 
increase.  He  classifies  the  toxoids  as:  protoxoids,  which  have 
a  stronger  affinity  for  the  antitoxin  than  the  genuine  toxin;  syntox- 
oids,  which  have  the  same  affinity  as  the  toxin,  and  epitoxoids,  which 
have  less  affinity.  He  considers  the  latter  as  a  primary  product  of 
the  bacillus,  and  not  a  transformation  product  of  the  diphtheria 
toxin,  and  calls  them  "  toxones."  These  toxoids  and  toxones  are 
not  simple  substances,  but  can  be  subdivided  into  what  he  calls 
proto,  deutero  and  tritoxins.  His  research  proves  that  in  the  diph- 
theria toxin  molecule  there  are  two  independent  atom-complexes. 
One  is  haptophorous,  that  is,  it  binds  the  antitoxin ;  the  other  is 
toxophorous,  the  cause  of  the  specific  toxic  effect.  Experiments  on 
frogs  disclosed  that  the  first  exert  their  effect  even  when  cold,  but 
that  the  toxophorous  require  warmth  before  they  can  affect  the 
cells.  This  difference  in  time  explains  the  incubation  period. 
There  seems  to  be  a  further  possibility  that  the  protoxoids  are  able 
in  certain  circumstances  to  effect  a  direct  cure  by  forcing  the  toxin 
out  of  its  combination  with  the  elements  of  the  tissues  by  means  of 
their  stronger  affinity  for  it  Jour.  Amer.  Med.  Assoc.,  p.  1258. 
J.  L.  D.  M. 
ANISON,  THE  NEW  ANESTHETIC. 
This  is  a  colorless,  aqueous  solution  of  trichlor-pseudobutyl-alco- 
hol  or  aceton-chloroform,  and  corresponds  to  a  2  to  2*5  solution  of 
cocain,  but  has  none  of  the  latter's  local  irritation  and  is  non-toxic. 
As  much  as  17  grains  have  been  used  without  after-effects.  The 
anesthetic  effect  is  also  immediate,  with  no  interval,  as  with  cocain. 
In  suturing,  a  small  amount  of  anison  injected  at  the  points  where 
the  stitches  are  to  be  taken  will  prevent  pain.  Even  inflammatory 
phlegmonous  processes  can  be  rendered  perfectly  insensible  if  suffi- 
cient anison  is  used  to  keep  them  flooded  all  the  time.  The  anes- 
thesia was  not  perfect  in  all  cases,  but  this  can  be  said  of  all  other 
anesthetics,  L,  Sternberge,  of  Berlin,  concludes  his  report  of  a 
dozen  tests  of  anison  in  the  Klin.  Therap.  Woch.,oi  September  25th, 
by  recommending  it  as  a  useful  and  safe  anesthetic. — Journ.  Amer. 
Med.  Assoc.,  November  12,  1898,  p.  1 180. 
J.  L.  D.  M. 
