Abstract
Summary
The R.E.S., which is the main defense against endotoxin, plays no part in the defense against staphylococcal toxin. The kidneys remove staphylococcal toxin from the circulating blood. The toxin or a modification of it is subsequently released, then exerts a lethal action elsewhere. For some hours after it is taken up by the kidney the toxin cannot act. Thus, the kidney is protective for some hours. Indeed nephrectomy prevents death from exotoxin. The renal necrosis produced by the toxin in itself is not the lethal lesion, because renal necrosis produced by arterial occlusion does not cause such rapid death as occurs in renal necrosis produced by the toxin.
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