The term, organic toxemia, we apply to toxins arising within the body as a result of destructive processes going on in one or more of its organs. Sometimes the toxins are contained in pus, as those derived from an abscessed tooth or tonsil, a pent-up wound, a tumor that is breaking down, suppurating ovaries or appendix, or other abscessed organs. Pus absorbed from such sources is added to the pre-existing toxemia, of which the suppurating process is an effect, and complicates the troubles of the body. Unless forced, such toxins will not be absorbed by those not already toxic.

Tilden says: "A suppurating wound, ulcer, or chancre, is on the outside of the body, and if it causes septic (blood) poisoning, it will be because the waste products are not allowed to drain--to escape. Even vaccinia fails to produce septic poisoning because its poison is discharged on the surface--on the outside of the body. Occasionally the waste products are forced to enter the blood because of faulty dressings; then septic poisoning with death follows."--Toxemia Explained, p. 50.

Septicemia (septic poisoning) and bacteremia (bacteria in the blood) are complicating toxemias, they are never primary. Putres-cent poisoning always comes from a foul wound or operation, one that does not drain well. Bacteria are everywhere, and are harmless, but if they get into a wound and cannot get out, then they produce toxins that may kill. The alkaloids of decomposition --cadaveric poison--arising from decay of tissue impart toxicity to the germs they saturate. Tilden says "Bacteria have no more respect for a good surgeon than for a poor one. An ox may gore, but if drainage is perfect, the operation will be a success." A pent up wound results in septic absorption.

Constitutional toxemia is the ever-present condition that permits "pathogenic" organisms to gain a foothold in the body. So-called foci of infection are always secondary to toxemia. It is our contention that constitutional toxemia alone paves the way for secondary infections, that toxin-saturated tissue of low resistance supplies the favorable soil for germ propagation. These may then complicate toxemia. This is the reason the removal of one "focus of infection" is soon followed by the development of another--toxemia breaks down other tissue. Only when toxemia is removed and nerve energy restored can their successive development be prevented.

Retained and accumulated glandular secretions, as in hyperthyroidism, poison the body. This is always a secondary toxemia, complicating the basic toxemia. Those forms of auto-intoxication that result from chronic nephritis, cholangitis, gall-stones, hepatic cancer, diabetes, pernicious anemia, myxoedema, acromegaly, Addison's "disease," gout, hyperthyroidism, etc., are merely complicating toxemias of advanced pathologies. They add to the pre-existing pathologies and hasten the final consummation, but are never primary causes. They are effects of enervation and metabolic toxemia, perhaps complicated by intestinal toxemia, chemical toxemia, or other toxemia. Toxemia (sepsis) arising from the break-down of a tumor (cancer) is a secondary toxemia.