Abstract
Twenty-two persons were tested with toxins from three different strains of streptococci isolated from cases of scarlet fever. Toxin No. 1 was prepared from a strain received from Doctor Dochez. Toxins Nos. 2 and 3 were obtained from Doctor Anna Williams. They were prepared from two different strains. Number 3 was from the Dick strain.
Fourteen persons gave similar reactions to all three toxins. Four gave very slight reactions to toxin No. 3 and no reactions to the other two. Three gave very slight reactions to toxin No. 2 and none to the other two.
The reactions in one individual were of exceptional interest. Toxins 2 and 3 failed to give any reaction, toxin 3 in two skin-test doses; toxin No. 1, however, gave a very marked reaction, even on repeated tests. The reaction to this toxin was apparently typical, commencing in 4 to 6 hours, reaching its maximum in about 24 hours and then fading rapidly. There was no indication of pseudo reaction—the test with heated toxin being negative. Moreover, toxin neutralized with antitoxic serum received from Doctor Dochez gave no reaction, although normal horse serum even in low dilutions failed to neutralize the toxin.
In tests on two other susceptible individuals the serum of this person, in a dilution of 1:4, neutralized both toxins 1 and 3, but the mixture of her serum with toxin No. 1 induced a definite reaction in the person herself. Toxin No. 2 was not tested.
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