296 Procccdings Columbia Biochemical Association [Jan. 



conclusions were dependent 011 anaphylactic phenomena that ap- 

 peared to be obtained with condensations from expired air. At Dr. 

 Gies' Suggestion I am repeating their experiments with a view of 

 applying the findings to problems in Ventilation and disease. Six 

 repetitions of the experiments by Rosenau and Amoss have been 

 made thus far, with negative results in each instance. 



We believe that Rosenau and Amoss failed to conduct adequate 

 control experiments, both on the toxic effects of blood serum and 

 on their anaphylactic tests. Their choice of sites (heart, brain) 

 for the injeotions is open to criticism. Injeotions into the heart 

 may produce lesions of the heart or lungs as well as pericardial in- 

 jury and hemorrhage; and, after injury to the bündle of Hiss, 

 resu'ltant Symptoms like the Stokes-Adams Syndrome, with oon- 

 sequent difficulty of respiration, may simulate anaphylactic effects. 

 Besides, in such injections, there is no assurance that the entire 

 amount of injected fluid goes into the heart. As for injections into 

 the brain, Rosenau and Amoss themselves say : " When the second 

 injection was placed under the dura, through the optic foramen, the 

 results were sometimes clouded by the appearance of Symptoms 

 which were interpreted to be the result of central Irritation." In 

 cur work, the second injection was made intravenously (externa! 

 jugular vein) . 



The conclusion by Rosenau and Amoss, that expired air contains 

 protein ( " volatile " ) , appears to be unwarranted. The experiments 

 are in progress with the Cooperation of Drs. J. Bronfenbrenner and 

 S. Gitlow. 



[The proceedings of the February and April meetings of the 

 Biochemical Association will be published in the April number of 

 the Biochemical Bulletin.] 



Biochemical Laboratory of Columbia University, 

 College of Physicians and Surgeons, 

 New York. 



