Abstract
Practically all our experience with the interaction of the toxins and antitoxins of the diphtheria and tetanus bacilli indicates that this reaction is one of the most specific immune reactions, if not the most specific, upon which to base conclusions concerning the difference of species or of subgroups of species. In the study of the hemolytic streptococci, however, two sharply contrasted points of view concerning the specific relation of the toxins and antitoxins to the various disease processes have developed despite extensive research.
Our studies of the streptococci appear to throw additional light on the nature of the toxin-antitoxin reaction and suggest why such divergent conclusions may be reached in the study of these organisms. I am, therefore, presenting these observations from this point of view.
During the past 6 years the toxicity of about 200 strains of hemolytic streptococci from typical cases of scarlet fever and as many more from cases of erysipelas, septic sore throat, and other streptococcus infections has been determined.
Man and goats are the only animals susceptible to the streptococcus toxins, with the possible exception of the rabbit. Different persons and different goats vary in their susceptibility to the toxins of different strains and an individual person or goat does not always react to the same degree to the same toxin. For example, in tests where 2 “scarlet fever” toxins, A and B, and 4 “erysipelas” toxins, C, D, E, and F, were tested on each of 3 individuals, person No.1 reacted in an equal degree to toxins A, B, D, and E and slightly to toxin F but failed to react to toxin C. Person No. 2 reacted equally to toxins A, B, D, and E but did not react to C or F; while person No. 3 reacted to the 4 erysipelas toxins and to the scarlet fever toxin A but failed to react to the scarlet fever toxin B. Goats susceptible to scarlet fever toxin A in high dilutions were also susceptible to all 4 erysipelas toxins.
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