FORMATION OF DEFENSIVE FERMENTS /3 



however, in this experiment we use the blood plasma, 

 or serum, of a clog to which cane sugar has been 

 administered as an injection, either subcutaneously 

 or directly into the circulation, then, on bringing this 

 plasma and cane sugar together, we observe that 

 the reducing potentialities of the mixture are con- 

 siderably increased. Simultaneously, it is possible 

 to show that the quantity of the admixed cane sugar 

 diminishes. 



These experiments give very positive results when 

 the splitting action of the plasma is investigated with 

 the aid of the optical method. In this case plasma is 

 taken from a normal dog in a certain quantity, and a 

 known amount of cane sugar solution is added ; a 

 polarization tube is filled with the mixture, and the 

 rotation of the latter is ascertained. The readings of 

 the polariscope are taken from time to time, and the 

 tube is kept during the intervals in an incubator at 

 37 C. It is found that the initial rotation keeps 

 constant. 



Xow, if an injection of cane sugar is made into the 

 circulation of the same dog from which the plasma 

 was taken, it may be demonstrated after a very short 

 time that its plasma is now capable of breaking up 

 cane sugar. The strong rotation to the right, which 

 we observe at first, decreases continuously. It 

 approaches zero, and finally, passing zero, it travels 

 to the left. We obtain eventuallv a left-handed 



