REVIEW OF RECENT RESEARCHES 143 



ferment is present which can act on this carbo- 

 hydrate. 



Further, the cause of disharmony with the blood 

 plasma may depend upon the fact that cells of a 

 particular kind have degenerated, in consequence of 

 which they have a pathological structure, and give 

 off a disharmonious kind of material, to which the 

 blood plasma is unused. 



We may also mention the experiments of Bauer 

 and Reines, made for the purpose of clearing up the 

 etiology of sclerodermy. The actual experiments 

 point to a disturbance of the functions of the thyroid 

 gland; but it is probable that other organs are 

 affected sympathetically. In these experiments, also, 

 it appears that certain organs are decomposed, while 

 others are not. 



Fauser, Wegener, Job. Fischer, Kafka, and others 

 report numerous observations on cases of dementia 

 pra?cox, paralysis, and melancholia. In the first- 

 named disease defensive ferments appear against the 

 sexual glands and the cortex of the brain. Accord- 

 ing to our ideas this means that these organs exhibit 

 a disturbance of function, though which organ 

 primarily discontinues its functions cannot at present 

 be ascertained. In cases of melancholia no defensive 

 ferments have as yet been found. In paralysis the 

 cortex of the brain is nearly always decomposed. 



These researches naturally do no more than imply 



