PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SPERMATOZOON 121 



gave no reduction; bisubnitrate gave no reduction. 

 Richards and Woodward (1915) point out that the 

 efficiency of the agglutinin, like pepsin, varies with the 

 square root of the concentration. If the efficiency is 

 measured by the number of seconds the spermatozoa 

 remain agglutinated, and the concentration is measured 

 by units of strength, a curve results of approximately the 

 formula y 2 = nx, where y represents the efficiency and 

 x the concentration (Richards and Woodward, 1915). 

 The same authors also state that X-radiation affects 

 solutions of the agglutinating substance in the same 

 sense as ferments, accelerating in a short exposure 

 (about two minutes), non-effective in a five-minute expo- 

 sure, and inhibitive in a longer exposure. It thus 

 possesses some ferment analogies. 



A completely agglutinated sperm suspension in which 

 reversal has occurred is not capable of reagglutination 

 by the addition of more of the agglutinating substance, 

 and the substance disappears from an agglutinated 

 suspension when not present in excess. The agglu- 

 tination has therefore some of the usual characters of 

 a chemical reaction. Glaser (1914) has also made the 

 same determination. Schucking (1903) also holds to 

 a union of the agglutinating substance of the egg 

 with the agglutinable substance of the sperm for similar 

 reasons. The writer (1914) has determined that i c.c. 

 of 3 per cent sperm suspension of Arbacia will fix about 

 64 units of the agglutinating substance, i.e., i c.c. of 

 egg water of 64-unit agglutinating strength. In more 

 specific terms, if i c.c. of 3 per cent sperm be added to 

 i c.c. of 64-unit egg water and the spermatozoa be 

 precipitated after agglutination by centrifuging, the 



