1912] William J. Gies 465 



(produced cumulatively perhaps, or progressively freed from the 

 restraining influence of anti-hydrolases) would probably remain in 

 situ and give increasing intracellular evidence of their power to 

 excite water Imbibition. 



Experiments begun in the fall of 1910, with the Cooperation of 

 Mr. John L. Kantor and which I have carried forward occasionally 

 since that time, indicate that protein-acid ("combined acid") Solu- 

 tions,^^ which, Hke those used by Goodridge and Gies, do not induce 

 swelling of fibrin or Collagen masses, promptly acquire that power 

 when pepsin is dissolved in them. I expect to publish the details of 

 these and related experiments in the near future. 



In reply to my reference to " neuropathic edemas, natural and 

 experimental," Fischer says that such edemas have not yet been pro- 

 duced " experimentally " (page 457). When I wrote my remarks 

 in this connection I had in mind the following Statement by Wells 

 in a discussion of "neuropathic edema":^* "That nervous control 

 is a possible f actor is well shown by many experiments ; f or example, 

 simple ligation of the femoral vein in animals does not cause edema, 

 but if the sciatic nerve is cut the vasoconstrictors are paralyzed, and 

 edema may follow (Ranvier). In this case the nervous influence 

 is only indirect, through its vasomotor effects. Similarly, Stimu- 

 lation of vasodilator fibers may cause edema." Furthermore, I 

 understood that " angioneurotic edema has affinities with Urticaria, 

 the giant form of which is probably the same disease. . . . Quincke 

 regards the condition as a vasomotor neurosis, under which the per- 

 meability of the vessels is suddenly increased."^^ That angio- 

 neurotic edema and Urticaria may be anaphylactic phenomena, in- 

 volving disturbance of vascular tonus, was also brought to mind by 

 very interesting results of experiments in this laboratory which Dr. 

 Oscar M. Schloss will describe in the near future. 



Fischer states that he "does not understand" the following 

 question in my review : " Has Fischer duly considered, in this con- 

 nection (the production of edema), the effect of pathocolloidaP'' 



" These are edematous protein-acid Solutions. 



^* Wells : Chemical Pathology, 1907, p. 294. 



^' Osler: Principles and Practise of Medicine, 191 1, p. 1104. 



^° Pathocolloidal is an analogue of collochemical, coined for the occasion. 

 The phrase might have been put more directly as follows : the effect of patho- 

 logical coördinations of colloids in cells, etc. 



