Respiratory Anaphylaxis in Guinea Pig Due to Castor Bean Dust.

Abstract

Last year we1 demonstrated for the first time that normal guinea pigs, when exposed to an organic dust such as horse dander, could become sensitized through inhalation. Guinea pigs, thus sensitized, when again placed in contact with the same dust after a suitable incubation period, demonstrated unmistakable signs of anaphylaxis which we termed “respiratory anaphylaxis” and which we believed to be identical with bronchial asthma in the human being. This was offered as a method for studying asthma experimentally in the animal.Recently, Figley and Elrod2 reported the occurrence of a large number of cases of asthma resulting from the inhalation of castor bean dust “pomace” thrown into the air from the pipes of a castor oil factory. To determine whether pomace was an anaphylactogen and could be the cause of asthma, we proceeded to study the problem of pomace asthma in the guinea pig. The pomace came from the above castor oil factory.Thirty-seven normal guinea pigs were placed for several hours in glass cages i...