of ascorbic acid that is oxidized to dehydroascorbate a molecule of hydrogen peroxide is liberated hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidant when in the presence of cuprous ion and is capable of generating hydroxyl radicals according to the reaction below on the product side of the equation the hydroxyl free radical oh that is formed is very reactive and is known to participate in reactions that irreversibly inactivates proteins it is recognized however that this invention is based upon laboratory observation of the inactivation of a toxin and the substantiation of such by laboratory animals accordingly the above theory is supplied as the best explanation that reasonable minds conceive but the invention herein disclosed is based upon actual tests and not on the above theory there are a number of inter related reaction sequences in addition to the ones described above that could contribute to the toxin inactivation as a means for supporting the presentation made herein a supply of enterotoxin f was obtained from dr bergdoll at the university of wisconsin eighteen rabbits were injected intravenously with 10 micrograms per kilogram of body weight of the staphylococcal enterotoxin f nine of the rabbits developed severe diarrheal illness and died within 72 hours three additional rabbits developed severe diarrheal illness but survived six rabbits developed no grossly detectable signs of illness the ten micrograms per kilogram dose therefore appears to be close to the ld 50 for this group of rabbits fifteen rabbits were then injected with 10 micrograms per kilogram of the same toxin which had been preincubated for one hour at room temperature with 1 0 milligram of l.