Abstract
Experiments show that the toxic principle of Rhus diversiloba while not volatile can poison at a distance by means of mechanical carriers. It is not destroyed by subjection for one hour to 100° C. and is carried, potent, by the smoke from burning Rhus plants. The dermatitis produced by this plant is a purely local affection and is not spread by the blood or lymph or by the serum of the blebs. The reaction of the sweat has no relation to individual susceptibility.
Absolute immunity in man has been claimed but was not found to exist, on repeated attempts, in any of the individuals tried (6 persons). In spite of the work of Ford, the conclusion is arrived at that experimental immunity in animals to Rhus toxin has not been proved. The author, working with pure toxin (glucoside) produced by the method of Syme, was unable to intoxicate animals with any reasonable amount. Ford's work was done with a commercial fluid extract containing various impurities. A permanent aqueous suspension of the alcoholic solution of the pure toxin can be prepared, and remains toxic for the human skin. As much as 0.025 gm. of this preparation of toxin can be given intravenously to a 2,000-gram rabbit without fatal effect, and as much as 0.03875 gm. can be given to a 280-gm. guinea pig subcutaneously without fatal effect. Pure alcoholic extract when given subcutaneously produces severe necrosis and death owing to the alcohol itself used as a menstruum, but with no lesions attributable to the toxin. No skin lesions were produced in monkeys, rabbits, or guinea pigs as a rule, but a slight dermatitis was produced on the rabbit's ear at times.
Inasmuch as animals can not be killed by the pure toxin, it is impossible to demonstrate antitoxic effect in the serum of animals that have received repeated doses of the toxin.
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