HOWARD T. KARSNER 987 



The physical changes in the blood vary greatly with diflferent agents. Floccula- 

 tion of plasma colloids may be easily visible or require special instruments such as the 

 agglutinoscope or tyndallometer, Kopaczewski and Gruzewska' report that this will 

 occur also in vitro. The platelets may be increased or decreased, and following the 

 administration of certain agents may agglutinate in the vessels. The latter phenome- 

 non has also been demonstrated in vitro (Dale and Laidlaw,^ De Eds and Somerfield^). 

 We found that hemagglutination occurs in vitro by the use of many of the agents that 

 produce thrombosis and embolism in vivo (shown also by Oliver and his co- workers). ■» 

 Hanzlik, De Eds, and Tainter^ found increased rate of sedimentation of erythrocyte 

 suspensions as the result of treatment with several of the agents. "The physical 

 changes in blood and plasma resulting from the injection of foreign agents, sera, etc., 

 are increase in viscosity and lowered surface tension of the blood, the plasma being 

 unchanged in guinea pigs receiving serum treated with agar (Zunz and La Barre).'^ 

 Increases in viscosity of the plasma and fibrinogen, decrease in surface tension and 

 changes in the ratio of globulin to albumin (increased globulin) are reported after 

 injections of proteins by Lohr and Lohr."^ 



Studies of gaseous metabolism, hydrogen-ion concentration, carbohydrate and 

 nitrogen metabolism, and lipin and lipoid constitution have been carried out with 

 numerous agents. Many changes have been noted, but the agents as a group do not 

 produce alterations that can yet be correlated. 



It has not been shown that the non-protein agents are capable of rendering ani- 

 mals more sensitized to subsequent injections. There is then no hypersensitization. 

 The agents act immediately without a period of incubation. The blood of injected 

 animals does not render other animals more sensitive; there is no passive sensitiza- 

 tion. Desensitization, in the sense of a sort of antianaphylaxis, cannot be produced. 

 If flocculation of proteins or aggregation can be inhibited or prevented, shock may 

 likewise be reduced or prevented. Since circulatory failure is often a cause of death, 

 cardiac and circulatory stimulants may prevent fatal outcome. In other words, suc- 

 cessful inhibition of anaphylactoid phenomena depends upon pharmacological rather 

 than upon specific immunological methods. 



Although the matter of production of toxic materials in anaphylaxis is an open 

 question, in the anaphylactoid phenomena there is nothing to suggest that a poison- 

 ous product is elaborated other than that found in the agents themselves. It is true 

 that their action in many instances is mediated by physical changes produced in 

 the blood. Such effects have been considered above in the discussion of the physical 

 theories of anaphylaxis. 



' Kopaczewski, W.: Conipt. rend. Soc. de hiol., 88, 139. 1923. 



2 Dale, H. H., and Laidlaw, P. P.: J. Physiol., 52, 355. 1919. 



3de Eds, F., and Somerfield, H. A.: Proc. Soc. Ex per. Biol, o" Med., 20, 49S. 1923. 



4 Oliver, J., and Douglas, E.: /. Pharmacol, b' E.xper. Thcrap., 19, 187. 1922; Oliver, J., and 

 Vamada, S. S.: ibid., p. 199. 1922. 



5 Hanzlik, P. J., de Eds, F., and Tainter, M. L.: ibid., 21, 217. 1923. 

 * See Zunz, E., and la Barre, J.: loc. cit. 



'Lohr, W. and H.: Ztschr.f. d. ges. ex per. Med., 29, 139. 1922. 



