antitoxin

(an-te-tok’sin) [Gr. ἀντί against + τοξικόν poison]. Any defensive protein, either existing normally or developed in the body as a result of the implantation of a poison, and acting as a neutralizer of the poison. Antitoxins of various diseases, derived from the blood-serum of animals that have been subjected to the disease, are used as therapeutic agents. artificial a., an antitoxin obtained by pa ing an electric current through infected bouillon. diphtheria a., a preparation of the blood-serum of animals inoculated with diphtheria: used hypodermically in the treatment of diphtheria. Dunbar’s a., an antitoxin from the pollen of ragweed, golden-rod, rye, etc., used in the treatment of hay-fever. mormal a., a serum capable of neutralizing an equal quantity of normal toxin solution. streptococcus a., an antibody obtained from the blood-serum of an animal artificially inoculated with Streptococ’cus pyogenes. It is used in treating erysipelas, septicemia, puerperal fever, and other streptococcic infections. tetanus &., a preparation of the blood-serum of an animal artificially inoculated with Bacil’lus tet’ ani.