DIFFERENTIATING COMPLEMENTS. 225 



show that the ascitic fluid contains an anticomplement l which fits 

 into that complement which is activated by amboceptor A, whereas 

 anticomplements for the complement of amboceptor B are absent. 

 Hence we are justified in differentiating in guinea-pig serum at least 

 two complements with different haptophore groups. 



It may be hoped that continued investigations of normal body 

 fluids will bring to light numerous other favorable cases which will 

 make possible differences along the lines indicated. For although 

 in normal serum the complication of haptins present, such as ambo- 

 ceptors, complements, complementoids, antiamboceptors, and anti- 

 complements, is very great, the conditions here are certainly simpler 

 than in the serum of immunized animals; for in the latter there are 

 also present innumerable primary, and (owing to internal regulative 

 processes) secondary reactive products. 



1 Erhlich and Morgenroth have discussed the nature of anticomplements 

 at length in the Berl. klin. Wochenschr. 1901, No. 10. They conclude that 

 the origin of these bodies is this, that foreign complements combine with the 

 complementophile group of certain cell receptors. According to this view 

 the anticomplements are nothing else than thrust-off ambocepters whose com- 

 plementophile groups possess a higher affinity than is usually the case. It is 

 curious, therefore, that Gruber, nine months later (Sitzg. der k.k. Ges. der 

 Aerzte in Wien, Wiener klin. Wochenschr. 1901), presents this view, which 

 had been recognized as a natural consequence of the receptor theory, as an 

 entirely new objection against just this theory. 



