A demonstration of the cause of acute anaphylactic death in guinea pigs

Abstract

In a preliminary communication, 1 we pointed out among other things, (1) that the acute anaphylactic death of guinea pigs was due to asphyxia; (2) that this asphyxia was caused by the development of a stenosis in the pulmonary air passages, so that practically no air enters or leaves the lung in spite of violent diaphragmatic contractions, the lungs remaining distended even after opening of the chest; (3) that this stenosis was caused by a peripheral action of the second or toxic injection, for the same stenosis and striking lung picture was obtained after destruction of the cord and medulla, artificial respiration being maintained; (4) that this stenosis was probably caused by a tetanic contraction of the muscles of the bronchioli.

In the demonstration, a sensitized guinea pig was immobilized by curarin and artificial respiration instituted. This respiration was of such a strength that the chest expanded and collapsed well. Within from one to two minutes after the injection of one cubic centimeter of normal horse serum, the respiratory oscillations of the chest gradually became less and less and finally stopped, although the respiration machine delivered the air with the same rate, strength and amount as before; now the chest remained motionless in an inspiratory condition, thus demonstrating that the entering air found an obstruction or stenosis shortly after the injection of the toxic dose.