[Endotoxins in gastroenterology--a medico-historical sketch]

First descriptions of effects of intestinal bacterial endotoxins date from the middle of the 19th century (P. L. Panum et al.). The antitoxic function of the liver has been investigated by I. P. Pawlow in 1893. At the turn of the last century the theory of "auto-intoxication" (C. Bouchard, I. I. Metschnikoff et al.) was well known, but there were also first systematic studies of the facultatively pathogenic intestinal bacteria (T. Escherich, H. Tissier, J. Strasburger). In the twenties of our century V. van der Reis and L. Bogendoerfer worked out important fundamentals of human gastrointestinal microecology. Endotoxins as component of cellular wall of gram-negative bacteria are found by A. Boivin et al., J. W. Walker et al. First applicable proof for the detection of endotoxins was the pyrogen test with rabbits. The Limulus amoebocyte lysate test (J. Levin and F. B. Bang) has been employed as a more simple, rapid and sensitive method and was introduced in gastroenterology in a larger extent. Connections between endotoxinaemia and liver diseases, effects of endotoxins on gastrointestinal mucosa and on the course of shock are subjects of actual investigations.