IO6 SERODIAGXOSIS OF ORGANIC FUNCTIONS 



retarded by the addition of optically active a-amino- 

 acids. It is a matter of indifference what kind of 

 a-ami no-acid is used, provided only it belongs to the 

 units of the protein. We demonstrate the decom- 

 position of a specifically constructed substrate, while 

 the methods in question are concerned only with the 

 influence of the products that are split off. 



Of course, the mere fact, that it has been found 

 possible to found a sero-diagnosis of pregnancy on 

 the principles described above, would not give us the 

 right to speak of a sero-diagnosis of the functions 

 of organs. Further research, based on these prin- 

 ciples as well as on the methods described, has, 

 however, given us results which entitle us fairly to 

 presume, that a new road has already been found for 

 the development of our knowledge of the structure 

 and metabolism of cells, under normal and patho- 

 logical conditions. 



As, meanwhile, our knowledge of the physical and 

 chemical properties of the complicated constituents 

 of the cell, and the products of its metabolism, is still 

 very scanty, while in addition the disharmonious 

 components of the plasma only appear in minute 

 quantities, we are not in a position to seek them out 

 by direct means. We have, therefore, to hit upon 

 indirect means, and to find out whether a particular 

 blood serum has ferments at its disposal, which are 



