The Dick Test and Allergic Skin Reactions to Streptococcus Nucleoproteins

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Abstract
There are those who believe that the specific poison of Streptococcus scarlatinae, though thermostable, is a soluble toxin comparable to that of diphtheria, and there are others who hold that it is endotoxic in nature (especially Duval and Hibbard); correspondingly, there is a conflict of opinion as to the nature of Dick reaction. According to the prevalent opinion, the Dick test indicates the presence or absence of antitoxin to the scarlatinal toxin, but there are also a few who still believe in the allergic nature of Dick reaction (v. Gröer, Dochez, Cooke, Bristol etc.). In examining the purification and concentration of the Dick toxin, we have recently succeeded in isolating two substances with which skin reactions can be elicited in human beings. The first seems to be bacterial protein, which may be considered as the so-called nucleoprotein and the second as the essential specific toxin which is heat-labile and exotoxic in nature.

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