Peculiar Reaction (Allergic?) to Scarlet Fever Streptococcus Toxin.

Abstract

During the winter of 1925-26 studies on scarlet fever toxin necessitated the frequent intracutaneous injection of various toxic filtrates. The author served as a subject for these tests and until December 9th, 1927, always gave a typical Dick reaction. On this date, however, and on every subsequent test he gave the peculiar, twophase reaction which is described below. On this occasion there appeared, within 15 minutes after injection, a raised, firm, whitish or cream colored spot about 2 cm. in diameter with a blotchy red or pink edge, the whole strongly suggesting a serum wheal in an anaphylactic person. This disappeared in about 2 hours. Four hours later the typical, red, Dick reaction began to appear. Five days later a toxin which had been prepared some months previously from a different lot of broth but with the same strain of streptococcus was diluted and injected as usual. This toxin had always previously given a typical Dick reaction, the first signs of which did not begin to appear for 6 to 8 hour...