684 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



It is also recommended for skin disinfection before operations and in the treat- 

 ment of sl^in diseases of parasitic and nonparasitic nature. 



The use of normal horse sermn inoculation in the treatment of sepsis, 

 E. Emkys-Roberts (Jour. Roy. Army Med. Corps, 3Jf {1920), No. Jf, pp. 321-3.iJi, 

 figs. 4). — A number of case reports are given indicating the value of sub- 

 cutaneous or intramuscular injections of normal horse serum in the treatment of 

 human septic wounds. In discussing the nature of the underlying factor or 

 factors responsible for the encouraging results following this treatment, the 

 hypothesis is suggested that the inoculation of the serum results in an in- 

 creased production of complement or complementogen, which is immediately 

 used up in some process resulting in the improved condition of the patient. 



On the toxin for leucocytes produced by streptococci (Streptoleucocidin) , 

 Y. Nakayama (Jour. Inject. Diseases, 21 (1920), No. 1, pp. 86-100).— " Strep- 

 tococci, like certain other bacteria, produce a toxic substance — apparently a 

 toxin — that destroys leucocytes. In serum-broth medium the largest amount of 

 streptoleucocidin is produced in from 10 to 24 hours ; after that the production 

 falls. The largest amount of leucocidin was obtained in broth with goat serum 

 and horse serum, the next largest amount with rabbit serum, while guinea pig 

 serum gave the least. There is a definite relation between the volume of pro- 

 duction and virulence — virulent streptococci produce more leucocidin by far 

 than avirulent, which may produce none at all. 



" Streptoleucocidin is rendered inactive when heated to from 58 to 60° C. for 

 30 minutes, and it is an unstable substance. Once rendered inactive it can not 

 be made active again by the addition of small quantities of fresh leucocidal 

 culture fluid. The leucocidin and leucocytes unite at room temperature as well 

 as in the ice bos. 



" Normal serum and leucocytic extract possess antileucocidal action ; this 

 antiaction is lost when the fluids are heated at 70° C. for 30 minutes. It seems 

 difficiilt to produce antileucocidal effects by immunizing rabbits with strep- 

 tococci, but easier by injecting leucocidal culture fluids. Antileucocidal 

 immune serum not only exercises antileucocidal action against homologous and 

 heterologous streptoleucocidin, but also possesses strong opsonic powers, ren- 

 dering virulent streptococci, homologous as well as heterologous, easily phago- 

 cytable. Streptoleucocidin appears to be distinct from streptolysin, and anti- 

 streptoleucocidin does not neutralize staphyloleucocidin." 



Some observations on the constitution of the complements of different 

 animals, T. J. Mackie (Jour. Inununol, 5 (1920), No. 4, pp. 379-389). — "These 

 experiments elicit striking differences in the constitution of the complements of 

 different animals apart from their relative activity with hemolytic immune body 

 and venom. In the case of human and rabbit's serum acting on ox red blood 

 corpuscles, plus immune body venom, the complement is entirely associated 

 with the globulins of the serum, while in the case of guinea pig's serum, which 

 represents with these hemolytic systems a much more powerful complement, 

 the albumin fraction is also an essential constituent of the complement. 

 Whether the potency of a complement depends on the presence of constituents 

 associated with the serum albumin is a matter for further investigation. In 

 the case of human and rabbit's sera, however, acting with venom, the effect of 

 the globulin is ' masked ' in the whole serum by the albumin, while in the case 

 of guinea pig's serum the albumin also contributes to the full action of the 

 serum along with the globulin. It has also been shown how the albumin of 

 human and rabbit's serum may inhibit the action of guinea pig's serum globulin. 

 In the case of horse's serum, the activating effect with venom is due not only to 



