Reaction of the Amide-Group 
UPON THE 
Wasting Animal Economy. 
By Profs. Samuel G. Dixon, M.D.k and 
W. S. Zuill, M.U., D.V.S. 
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 
Reprinted from The Times and Register/-'7 
September 26, October 17, 1891, and February 6/i8pe. 
PHILADELPHIA : 
The American Medical Press Company, Limited. 
1891. REACTION OF THE AMIDE-GROUP UPON 
THE WASTING ANIMAL ECONOMY. 
By Profs. SAMUEL G. DIXON, M.D., and 
W. S. ZUILL, M.tT, D.V.S. 
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 
IN 1889 I demonstrated that the tubercle bacillus 
and its nidus, when injected into the animal 
economy, produced an effect before unobserved. 
In former communications I have been quite in- 
definite in my statements as to the real character of 
this toxic agent, having only suggested that it might 
be the residue of the pabulum remaining after the 
bacilli had selected that which was necessary for 
their existence, or a digestive secretion of the bacil- 
lus ; or, again, that it might be an excretion of this 
living organism. However, in my endeavor to de- 
termine the true nature of the active principle of the 
indefinite mixture that others have entitled " tuber- 
culine," I produced a crystalline substance that at 
once suggested the amide-group: Allantoin, glyco- 
cin, tyrosin, kreatin and kreatinin, taurin and cystin, 
etc. With this fact directly before us, that the wast- 
ing economy, accompanied by a defective liver and 
weak excretory organs, is often loaded up with waste 
products, it was believed worth while to institute a 
line of physio-pathological experiments by injecting 
the respective members of the amide-group into tu- 
berculous animals. Kreatin being at hand, I at once 
injected a small quantity of its solution into tubercu- 
lous and healthy small animals, with as satisfactory 
results as are usually obtained with guinea-pigs and 
rabbits. However, owing to the fact that these ani- 
mals do not give entirely satisfactory reactions, W. 
L. Zuill, M.D., Professor of Veterinary Surgery in 
the University of Pennsylvania, kindly offered to 2 
assist in carrying out a line of physio-pathological 
experiments on the larger animals. His clinical ex- 
perience, particularly with tuberculous cattle, made 
his services specially valuable in this work. A line 
of experiments was, therefore, immediately planned, 
and Prof. Zuill began the experiments to test the 
physio-pathological action of the respective members 
of the amide-group, when subcutaneously injected 
into the tuberculous animal economy, as well as into 
those in health, for control experiments. The report 
of Prof. Zuill on his work up to the present time is 
as shown in the following communication : 
To Prof. Samuel G. Dixon, M.D. 
Drar Doctor :-I hereby submit to you the clinical re- 
sults obtained from the subcutaneous injection of kreatin in 
tuberculous cattle. The experiments were made in accord- 
ance with our pre-arranged plan, and have extended over the 
last two months. The results obtained in these experiments 
more than fulfill my utmost expectations, and are in every 
respect identical with those which I have.obtained with tu- 
berculin. The physiological action of kreatin in tuberculous 
cow's is so exact and identical with tuberculin that it is im- 
possible to recognize a clinical difference. Its influence upon 
circulation and respiration is well marked in animals suffering 
with miliary tuberculosis of the lungs ; but large doses of the 
drug do not react upon these organs should the disease be 
confined to the other tissues of the body. 
The action of kreatin upon tuberculous tissues is intensely 
energetic, causing rapid necrosis of this tissue, giving it the 
appearance of having undergone a cystic degeneration. The 
cheesy degeneration of tuberculous tissue seemingly disap- 
pears, and its place is taken by necrotic cavities filled with 
serum, in which float threads and masses of the tuberculous 
structure more or less large. 
August 13.-Experiment No. I was made with of a 
grain of kreatin in a tuberculous cow, with no well-marked 
reaction. 
August 27.-Experiment No. II was made with | of a 
grain of kreatin in a tuberculous cow, which caused an ele- 
vation of temperature from ioi° to 104I0 F. 3 
September 9.-Experiment No. Ill was made with | of a 
grain of kreatin in a tuberculous cow, and caused an eleva- 
tion of temperature from Toil0 to 103$° F. 
September 21.-Experiment No. IV was made with 1 grain 
of kreatin in a tuberculous cow, and caused a reaction in 
temperature from IO2|° to 105$° F. 
September 4.- Check experiment No. II was made with | of 
a grain of kreatin in a healthy cow, and no reaction could be 
observed. 
September 9.-Check experiment No. Ill was made with 
of a grain of kreatin in a healthy cow,»and no reaction could 
be observed. 
. September 29.-Check experiment No. IV was made with 1 
grain of kreatin in a healthy cow, and no reaction could be 
observed. Respectfully, 
W. L. ZUILL. 
The report is so satisfactory in showing a marked 
action of one of the amide-group on wasting ani- 
mals, when subcutaneously injected, that not only 
will the chemical work to determine the exact char- 
acter of the definite crystalline substance obtained 
from animal tissues and artificially prepared culture 
mediums be carried on, but also a full line of physio- 
pathological experiments by the subcutaneous injec- 
tion of the respective members of the amide-group 
into the animal economy, in the Bacteriological Lab- 
oratory of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phil- 
adelphia, such as its facilities will warrant. Action of the amide-group upon the 
WASTING ANIMAE ECONOMY. 
IN carrying out the physio-pathological experi- 
ments by the subcutaneous injection of the 
respective members of the amide-group into the 
wasting animal economy, kreatin was followed up 
by taurin, with the results shown in the accompany- 
ing report, made by Dr. Zuill, Professor of Veterinary 
Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania : 
October 9, 1891. 
To Prof. Samuel G. Dixon, M.D. 
Dear Doctor : I hereby submit to you the clinical re- 
sults obtained from the subcutaneous injection of taurin into 
tuberculous cattle. 
The experiments were made as nearly in accordance with 
your request as was possible ; however, the stock under my 
control for the purpose was not as satisfactory as I would 
have liked. 
Experiment No. /A, was made upon a full-grown heifer, 
that was previously used for the purpose of testing the action 
of both tuberculin and kreatin, therefore you will not look 
for as marked reaction as would likely take place under 
other conditions. 
Treated with grain of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
IO A.M ]02.° F. 
I P.M 102.2 " 
2 " 102.2 " 
4 " 102.2 " 
6 " 104.2" 
7 P.M 104.° F. 
8 " 104. " 
9 " 104. " 
io " 103.8 " 
ii " 103. " 
Control Experiment No. /A, unfortunately, had to be 
made with a healthy steer, only six months old, which fact, 
for obvious reasons, rendered the result less satisfactory than 
it would have been with a full-grown animal. 
Treated with % grain of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
10 A.M 101.6° F. 
i pm 101.8 " 
2 " 101.8 " 
4 " ioi 8 " 
6 P.M 102.0 F. 
8 " 103. " 
9 " 103. " 
10 " 101.8 " 5 
Experiment No. 2A, was made upon the same tuberculous 
heifer as was Experiment No. lA, therefore you would not 
look for as high a reaction as that shown by the first injec- 
tions, particularly when followed up in such close succession. 
Treated with 1 grain of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
IO A.M 102.2° F. 
12 M 102.2 " 
2 P.M 102.2 " 
4 " 102.4 " 
5 p.m 102.60 F. 
6 " 103. " 
7 " 103.8" 
8 " 103.0" 
9 P M 103.2° F. 
Control Experiment No. z-A^ was made on the same 
healthy cow as Experiment No. 2 of September 4, 1891. 
Treated with 1 grain of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
10 A.M 101.8° F. 
12 M 102. " 
2 P.M 102. " 
4 " 101.8 " 
5 p.m 101.60 F. 
6 " ici.6 " 
7 " 101.6 " 
8 " ioi.6 " 
9 p.m ioi 6° F. 
Experiment No. 3 A, was made with the same tuberculous 
heifer that I have been using to test the reaction of both 
tuberculine and kreatin, which renders the animal less sus- 
ceptible to the action of taurin. 
Treated with grains of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
0.45 A-M"" 101.40 F. 
12 M 102. " 
2 P.M 102.4 " 
3 " 102.8 " 
4 " 102.8 " 
5 P.M 103° F. 
6 " 103. " 
7 " 103.6" 
8 " 103.2" 
9 " 102.8 " 
Control Experiment No. 3A, was made on a healthy cow, 
by treating her with grains of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
9-45 a.M.... 100.80 F. 
12 m 100.8 " 
2 P.M 100.8 " 
3 " i°2. " 
4 '• 102. " 
5 PM 102.° F. 
6 " 102.2 " 
7 " 102.2 " 
8 " 101.6 " 
9 *• 101.6 " 
Hoping to have some new cattle for the next of the amide- 
group, I remain, Very truly, 
» W. L. ZuiLL. ACTION OF THE AMIDE-GR0UP UPON THE 
WASTING ANIMAL ECONOMY. 
THE pbysio-pathological experiments with krea- 
tin on the healthy and wasting animal 
economy were followed up by others upon taurin with 
the results heretofore reported. 
January 22, 1892. 
To Prof. Samuel G. Dixon, M.D. 
Dear Doctor :-At your request I have used kreatin, tau- 
rin, the toxic agent you extracted from tuberculous lungs and 
tuberculin, as diagnostic agents, with the following results : 
Cow condemned for tuberculosis treated with 1 grain of 
kreatin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
11.00 A. M...'. . 101.6° F. 
1.15 P. M .... 102.0 " 
2.30 " .... I02.I " 
6.00 " .... 102.4 " 
7-oo p. M 102.40 F. 
8.oo " 102.4 " 
10.30 " 101.6 " 
11.30 " 101.6 " 
Same animal treated with i grain of taurin. 
TEMPERATURE. 
9-00 A. M.... 102.2° F. 
II.00 " I02.I " 
1.30 P. M 102.0 " 
3-3° " 102.1 " 
5.30 P- m 102.40 F. 
7.30 " 102.6 " 
9.30 " 102,6 " 
8.00 A. M I0I.0 M 
Same animal treated with tuberculous toxic agent, prepared 
according to Dixon, X grain. 
TEMPERATURE. 
8.55 A. M.... 102.4° F- 
10.35 " ••• 102-6 " 
1.00 P. M. . . . 102.4 " 
3-'5 F M 102.3° F. 
4 30 " 102.4 " 
7.3d " 102.6 " 
10.10 P. M 102.0 F. 
Same animal treated with tuberculin, 400 mgs. • 
TEMPERATURE. 
12.50 p. m 101.80 F." 
2.00 " I0I.8 " 
3-15 " 102.0 " 
4.15 " 102.2 " 
5.30 P. m ioa.2° F. 
6.50 " 102.2 " 
8.15 " 102.4 " 
9.00 " 102.0 " 
The results from the reagents not being consistent with our 
former experiments on tuberculous animals, the cow was killed 
and posted so as to determine the exact condition. This 
demonstrated a non-tuberculous condition. W. L- Zuin.