THE RETICULO-ENDOTHEIJAI. SYSTEM 97 



perhaps the reason complementary actions dominate the picture 

 in the ease of normal opsonins is the low concentration of the latter 

 while the high concentration in immune sera reduces the activating 

 action of complement to a mere enhancement of an effect which 

 takes place in its absence. 



Apparently surface forces play an important role in phago- 

 cytosis. For those interested in certain theories involving the 

 free surface energy at the interfaces of bacteria and phagocytes, 

 the papers of Fenn (1922, 1928) and Mudd, McCutcheon and 

 Lucke (1934) are recommended as of interest. 



In regard to the third question concerning the fate of ingested 

 infectious agents a number of possibilities need be considered: 



1. The cellular matter may be taken in and then ejected without 

 apparent change. 



2. After ingestion, living cells may be killed and digested, and 

 any remaining residue ejected. 



3. The ingested infectious agent may be transported within the 

 phagocyte to some depot and destroyed immediately or after an 

 indefinite period of time. This accounts for the presence of viable 

 organisms in cultures from the spleen, lymph nodes, and other 

 tissues when blood cultures are negative. 



4. Goodpasture's work on the pathogenesis of typhoid fever 

 suggests that young plasma cells may function as host cells for 

 E. tj/phosa. 



T). The phagocyte may be destroyed by the ingested organisms. 



References 



Arkin, A.: The Influence of Strychnin, Caft'ein, Chloral, Antipyrin, Cholesterol, 



and Lactic Acid on Phagocytosis, J. Infect. Dis. 13: 408, 1913. 

 AshofP, L.: 1913. Cited by Mann and Higgins, p. 979. 

 Ashoff, L.: Das Eeticulo-Endothieliale S.ysteni, Ergebn. d. inn. Med. u. 



Kinderh. 26: 1, 1924. 

 Bloom, W. : Fibroblasts and Histiocytes, Downey's Handbook of Hematology 



II, 1938, Paul B. Hoeber, New York, p. 1335. 

 Bordet, J., and Gengou, O. : Sur 1 'existence de substances sensibilisatrices 



dans la plupart des serums antimicrobiens, Ann. de I'Inst. Pasteur 15: 



289, 1901. 

 Bouffard: 1906. Cited by Jaffe, p. 979. 

 Brand, E.: Ueber das verhalten der kompleniente bei der dialvse, Berl. 



klin. Wchnschr. 44: 1075, 1907. 

 Brooks, S. C. : Tlie Regeneration of Cotiiiilemont After Radiation or Heating, 



J. Med. Res. 41: 411, 1919. 



