Studies on Tetanal Toxin

Abstract

Summary 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. 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. 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. Some theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.