Antitoxins
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This 1930s encyclopedia article defines antitoxins as specific substances or serum properties arising in the organism under the influence of toxins like diphtheria or tetanus. It explains their neutralizing action as the basis for the prophylactic and therapeutic use of antitoxic sera.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
ANTITOXINS (from the Greek anti - against and Latin toxicum - poison), according to Ehrlich, are specific substances, or according to the views of the physicochemical school, specific properties of serum that arise in the organism under the influence of a toxin (diphtheria, tetanus, etc.). Antitoxic serum acts as an antidote against the toxin and, by binding the latter, relieves the organism of toxin poisoning. The prophylactic and therapeutic use of anti-diphtheria, anti-tetanus, and other sera (see) is based on the action of antitoxic sera.
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“Antitoxins.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/antitoxins/