An Experimental Investigation on the Influence of Emulsions of Oils and Fats on the Lethal Effects of Bacterial Toxins

Abstract

It is now generally accepted that certain bacterial toxins are able to give rise to fatty degeneration in tissues and may bring about marked changes of this nature in the heart, liver, kidneys and other organs. When a cell is damaged a state of cloudy swelling or of parenchymatous degeneration generally occurs. The fat is distributed throughout the cell as fine globules and the condition is known as fatty degeneration. Numerous workers (see References) are agreed that many toxins, particularly diphtheria toxin, may cause a widespread damage to cells of the body in this way. The processes involved in the deposition of this fat have led to much discussion and speculation, but do not concern us here.