THE TOXIC FACTORS IN EXERIMENTAL TRAUMATIC SHOCK. VI. THE TOXIC INFLUENCE OF THE BACTERIAL FLORA, PARTICULARLY CLOSTRIDIUM WELCHII, IN EXUDATES OF ISCHEMIC MUSCLE 1

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Abstract
The bacterial flora of ischemic canine muscle exudates was investigated. Clostridium perfringens and Staphylocnccus albus have been recovered from most of these exudates in widely varying concns. The clostridia have been shown to multiply and produce toxin in ischemic muscle. They are present in many biopsy specimens of normal dog muscle obtained with the use of rigid surgical techniques of skin sterilization and sterile handling of specimens. Clostridia are not present in normal human muscle. Evidence has been obtained indicating a correlation between the toxicity of the fluids as administered to recipient dogs and their bacterial content. It is believed that this bacterial contamination is the source of a "toxic factor" in exptl. shock. Bacterial infection and its consequences must be taken into consideration in physiologic expts., particularly in those involving injury to tissue, even where performed by surgical methods. The possible relation of clostridial infection to human wound shock remains to be elucidated. The frequent contamination of war wounds with these organisms indicates the importance of such an evaluation.