^^72 LOCAL TLSSIIE REACTIVITY 



titrated tliiitccii and cii^litccii months alter liis illness and only 

 slight neinrali/int> potency (consistent neutralization \vith •;] re- 

 actini; units ol a Ciroup III filtrate) Avas demonstrable. The high- 

 est neutralizing jiotenty detected was present in serum "j. C^." 

 al)o\'e mentioned, \vhi( h Avas taken seven and twelve months alter 

 re(o\ery. 7 he control serum was found to possess some neutraliz- 

 ing potency, i.e., serum "G. R." giving consistent neutralizations 

 Avith (S units ot a (iroup I filtrate and serum "N. G." consistent 

 neutralization with 7.5 units of a Group III filtrate. The neu- 

 tralizing ])otency in the control serum was also apparently specific 

 since it was limited to filtrates of one serological group. Also, 

 serum of "M.K." convalescing from gonococcus infection possessed 

 considerable neutralizing potency for meningococcus reacting 

 factors. This could be due to biological relationships betAveen the 

 gonococcus and meningococcus. 



NEUTRALIZING POTENCY OF SERA FROM GONOCOCCUS INFECTIONS 



In Klein's Avork an opportunity to study the neutralizing anti- 

 bodies in gonococcus infections Avas afforded by 9 patients. Patient 

 "M.K." Avas a sixteen year old youth Avith a gonococcus polyarthri- 

 tis coming on six months after the j^rimary urethritis, of Avhich 

 there Avas a recurrence five Aveeks before admission. He Avas ad- 

 mitted on April 3, 1932, acutely ill and febrile. In addition to the 

 polyarthritis, tAvo supj)urating lesions developed in the skin. Pus 

 from the lesions and from the left ankle revealed gram-negative 

 diplococci on smear and gonococcus on culture. Systemic hyper- 

 thermia induced by diathermy Avas used therapeutically. The tem- 

 perature rapidly became normal and the arthritis subsided sloAvly 

 over a period of almost tAvo months. The patient Avas discharged 

 on May 29, 1932. Tavo blood cultures Avere sterile. In this patient 

 serum from small bleedings repeated over a period of nine Aveeks 

 Avas tested for capacity to neutralize reacting factors of gono- 

 coccus, thus j^resehting a curve of the development of neutraliz- 

 ing potency. The serum Avas also titrated for its potency in neu- 

 tralizing meningococcus reacting factors. 



The bleeding on April 9th gave consistent neutralization Avith 

 5 reacting units but only irregular neutralization Avith 7.5 units 

 of the filtrate. The ])leeding on April 18 gave consistent neutral- 

 ization Avith 15 units. The bleeding on April 23 gave a doubtful 

 irregular neutralization Avith 25 luiits; the bleeding on April 

 30th, irregular neutralization with 37.5 units. The bleeding on 



