Hemolytic Streptococcus Toxins and Antitoxins

Abstract

Abstract Banzhaf (1), in 1926, published a description of a method for the purification of scarlet fever streptococcus antitoxin which was essentially the same as that employed by him since 1912 for the experimental purification of diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins. His method consisted in adding to the citrated plasma of horses immunized by injections of scarlet fever streptococcus toxin, 0.8 per cent of an equal volume of trikresol and ether, diluting the plasma with a half volume of water, and adding a saturated solution of ammonium sulphate up to 25 per cent saturation. The mixture was rapidly heated to 57°C. and held at that temperature for one and one-half hours, when it was immediately filtered. The clear filtrate was then brought up to 46 per cent saturation with saturated ammonium sulphate solution, at which degree of saturation the antitoxin was precipitated.