1918] VETERINARY MEDICINE. 79 



is capable of combining with varying quantities of the antigen." The phe- 

 nomenon was observed whether a complex (horse serum) or a simple (crystal- 

 line egg albumin) antigen was used, in experiments on the living animal as 

 well as on the isolated uterus, and also with native antibody as shown in the 

 experiments in active anaphylaxis. 



" Partially combined cellular antibody manifests a marked diminution in its 

 affinity for fresh antigen. This diminuation is inverse, but only very roughly, 

 to the degree of saturation by antigen. Considerable variation in the amount 

 of the desensitizing dose of antigen may produce in practically the same de- 

 gree a loss of reactivity, or of avidity, toward fresh increments of antigen. 



"The minimal anaphylactic dose after partial desensitization shows an 

 enormous increase over that in the undesensitized animals. This increase can 

 not possibly be accounted for on the theory of neutralization of part of the 

 cellular antibody, leaving the remainder free to act. Partially saturated anti- 

 body shows not a diminished, but a qualitatively altered reactivity. Native 

 guinea pig anti-antibody attenuates alien (rabbit's) sensitizing antibody. In 

 relatively large amounts the former may completely abolish the reactivity of 

 the latter ; in smaller amounts it lowers the reactivity in such a fashion that 

 very large amounts of antigen are required to induce an anaphylactic response. 

 Partially neutralized antigen shows, not a diminution, but a qualitative alter- 

 ation of its reactive function. 



"The combination of cellular antibody with antigen in varying proportions 

 suggests an analogy with colloidal reactions, or adsorption phenomena. A 

 very essential point of difference is the specific affinity of the two rea- 

 gents. . . . 



" The same antibody, when in solution as precipitin, combines with antigen 

 quantitatively, and in strictly constant proportions, to form precipitate; when 

 attached to the cell, as sensitizing antibody, it combines with antigen in vary- 

 ing proportions. The living cell, therefore, modifies its properties. There is 

 no general law governing the mode of reaction of antibody. Depending upon 

 circumstances, it may combine with antigen according either to chemical or to 

 physical (colloidal) analogies." 



Bole of hepatic tissues in the acute anaphylactic reaction, W. H. Man- 

 waring and H. E. Crowe {Jour. Immunol., 2 (1917), No. 5, pp. 517-524). — "The 

 detoxicating action of the anaphylactic liver is not due solely to the presence 

 of anaphylactic humoral elements. There is evidently an acquired detoxi- 

 cating function of the fixed liver cells. The detoxicating action is not due to 

 a removal or destruction of the foreign protein in the perfusion fluid. Evi- 

 dence points to the explosive formation or liberation of vasodilator and broncho- 

 dilator substances by the sensitized liver cells." 



Fate of the foreign protein in the acute anaphylactic reaction, W. H. Man- 

 waring, Y. Kusama, and H. E. Crowe {Jour. Immunol., 2 {1917), No. 5, pp. 

 511-515). — From the results obtained in the study reported, in which perfusion 

 methods were applied to isolated organs and tissues, it is concluded that " no 

 demonstrable destruction or binding of the foreign protein by the fixed tissues 

 takes place during the acute anaphylactic reaction." 



The influence of temperature on the fixation of complement, H. R. Dean 

 {Jour. Path, and Bad., 21 {1917), No. 2, pp. 193-214, figs. S).— Data obtained 

 in the study show that in a mixture of antigen and antibody more complement 

 is fixed at 0° C. than at 37°. The maximum fixation, however, is attained more 

 rapidly at 37° than at 0°. 



" If suitable proportions of antigen, antiserum, and fresh guinea-pig serum 

 are mixed, it is possible to demonstrate that a precipitate is formed at 0°, which 



