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Studies on Tetanal Toxin¹

I. Qualitative Differences Among Various Toxins Revealed by Bioassays in Different Species and by Different Routes of Injection

Division of Bacteriology, Brooklyn Jewish Hospital

Abstract

1. 7 tetanal toxins have been bioassayed by 5 methods, namely: 1) Intracerebral injection in rabbits, 2) intracerebral injection in guinea-pigs, 3) intramuscular injection in rabbits, 4) intramuscular injection in guinea-pigs and 5) intramuscular injection in mice.

2. The relative potencies of the 7 toxins were found to be different for each individual method. Conversely, the relative potencies as determined by the five methods were found to be different for each individual toxin.

3. These findings show that toxins from various sources are qualitatively not identical. The lethal dose is determined not only by the number of toxin molecules per ml but also by the toxicity of each individual toxin molecule.

4. Some theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Footnotes

¹ Aided by a grant from the Committee on Scientific Research of the American Medical Association.