The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-04

the antitoxin itself never reached these
centers Let us try If we can attack the
seat OF the disease directly, and place the
antitoXin where the activity Of the toxin
is greatest" eXclaims DR.. Roux, and with
characteristic scientific enthusiasm he at
once proceeded to put this bold idea into
execution, and we shall see presently with
what results. But in order 10 dispel any
erroneous impression which may arise as
to the nature of these experiments. which
involve the Introduction of material direct
into the brain of an animal, he tells us
expressly that when harmless substance
Is used or an antitoxin In such an opera
ton. the animal suffers absolutely no i'll
results whatever, and experiences no sort
of subsequent pain or Inconvenience.
The results OF DR.. Roux's cerebral inocu-
lations are of the most remarkable char
acter. In the first place. he has discover
ed that the brain substance or nervous
tissue of. an animal possesses a special
affinity for this tetanus poison--that the
latter is attracted as IL by a magnet to
these centers of the body. Secondly.
very small quantity, quite harmless under
ordinary circumstances, introduced direct
ly into the brain infalllbly destroys an ami
NAL with tetanus symptoms. This affinity
of the nervo-cells of the body for poisons
has been brought out In the case OF other
poisons also. For example. rats are proof
against diphtheria, and viii survive dose
sufficient TO kill several rabbits; but IL
some of the virus be introduced directly
into their brains instead of under their
skin these animals succumb to this poison
The same has been shown in the case Of
rabbits and morphia. These animals can
stand a large simultaneous dose OF this
substance, but an extremely minute guam
3. tity put into their brain kills them This
shows that rats, as regards diphtheria
Ia. E,,t h. 49, f.tsF,l4t Ia
are able under ordinary circumstances,
TO withstand these substances, What may
be the constitution and character of this
extremely we'll organized system of de-
Tense undoubtedly possessed by these an
FINALS Is as yet a problem, and one which
Is daily exercising the speculative ingen-
uity of the highest scientific authorities.
We have seen,l however, that by placing
the toxin in a different position its lethal
action may be immensely augmented; now
we shall see what results follow the diff
ferent placing Of the antltoxin, anda DIR.
Roux's next endeavor was 60 ind out the
action OF the tetanus anitoxin as regards
the lethal relationship which exists be-
tween the tetanus toxin and the nerve
centers.
Here we come 10 his most astonishing
discovery. The tetanus antitoxin, or anti
tetanus serum, when put directly into the
brain possesses the power Of breaking Of
or entirely annulling the fatal association
OF the tetanus toxin with the nervous sys-
TEN. A single drop Of anti-tetanus blood
added to a dose of the poison sufficient
under ordinary conditions to destroy an
animal entirely checkmates the lethal ac,
ton of the toxin. and the latter may be
introduced with impunity into the brain of
an animal. Still more striking are the
experiments which show that few drops
of blood introduced into the brain of an
animal infected with tetanus will arrest
the progress of the disease and save the
animals life, although very much larger
quantity Of the same blood introduced In
the ordinary way under the skin fails en-
tirely to prevent an animal from falling a
victim TO tetanus. What a vista is here
opened up of what medical science may
in the future accomplish II is not sufti-
cient to localize the disease; we must also
locaize the remedy. Who can say what
the application Of this great discovery may
achieve in the case of epilepsy. for exam
pie? Again. Dr. Roux's researches have
enlarged the actives phere Of poisons and
vastly extended their horizon, and to cor
rectly define a substance as a poison now,
more than ever. demands the subtlest skill
and the highest scientific Attachments.