BIOCHEMICAL ANTAGONISM 



marked differences qualitatively in the effects produced by the two 

 agents. 



In conclusion it should be said that this essay is intended as a 

 guidepost set beside a new and dim trail to point the direction until 

 the road becomes a much traveled highway. Then a more preten- 

 tious marker may be raised and some of the errors of direction and 

 many of the convolutions of the trail may be obliterated. From the 

 work which has been done it seems that a study of antagonisms may be 

 a real current in biochemistry, and not merely an eddy. 



Finally, since the present attempt was meant more as an essay 

 and less as a review, no literature has been cited. The reader is re- 

 ferred to references (2) and (7) for documentation of some of the points 

 discussed. 



References 



(1) Fildes, P., "The mechanism of the anti-bacterial action of mercury," 

 Brit. J. Exptl. Path., 21, 67 (1940). 



(2) McIIwain, H., "Theoretical aspects of bacterial chemotherapy," Biol. 

 Rev. Cambridge Phil. Soc, 19, 135 (1944). 



(3) McIIwain, H., and Hughes, D. W., "Biochemical characterisation of 

 the actions of chemo therapeutic agents. II. A reaction of haemolytic 

 streptococci, involving pantothcnate-usage, inhibited by pantoyltaurine, and 

 associated with carbohydrate metabolism," Biochem. J., 38, 187 (1944). 



(4) "Modes of drug action," a symposium in Trans. Faraday Soc, 39, 319 

 (1943). 



(5) Quastel, J. H., and Woolridge, W. R., "Some properties of the dehy- 

 drogenating enzymes of bacteria," Biochem. J., 22, 689 (1928). 



(6) Woods, D. D., "The relation of /)-aminobenzoic acid to the mecha- 

 nism of the action of sulphonamide," Brit. J. Exptl. Path., 21, 74 (1940). 



(7) WooUey, D. W., "Some new aspects of the relationship of chemical 

 structure to biological activity," Science, 100, 579 (1944). 



(8) Woolley, D. W., "Development of resistance to pyrithiamine in yeast 

 and some observations on its nature," Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med., 55, 179 



(1944). 



(9) Woolley, D. W., "Some biological effects produced by a-tocopherol 

 quinone," J. Biol. Chem., 159, 59 (1945). 



377 



