logo NON-SPECIFIC PROTEIN THERAPY 



Berger followed the changes in the blood proteins of rabbits after serum injection for 

 several months. He found that after a latent period the total amount of protein was first 

 diminished, then followed two waves of increase and finally a return to normal. The globu- 

 lins, too, followed a similar curve, while the change in the albumin persisted longer than with 

 the other proteins. With my associates, I have followed the changes in the lymph for short 

 periods of time,^ and have reached the conclusion that the change in the globulins is indica- 

 tive of immediate cellular effect, the larger aggregates being more closely related to cell pro- 

 tein both immunologically and physically. Of great practical importance is the change in the 

 fibrinogen. This is at first diminished, but later greatly increased and plays a role in the 

 alteration of the coagulation time. This increase in the larger colloidal aggregates is further- 

 more of interest because of the marked effect in lessening the colloidal stability of the serum, 

 on the sedimentation time of the red blood corpuscles, and on the viscosity of the plasma. 

 An excellent review is that of Sachs, ^ and the French investigators, particularly Kapo- 

 czweski,^ have entered into this phase of the problem in detail. An associated change in the 

 surface tension is of great importance^ because it tends to increase osmosis and the penetra- 

 tion of certain substances into the cells. 



An increase in proteolytic enzymes, in lipolytic enzymes, and in amylase was noted by 

 Jobling and Petersen,^ and has been confirmed repeatedly.^ '" The antiferment titer reveals 

 a typical diphasic curve. s Complement has been studied by Malkin," who has found that 

 there is a direct relationship to the surface tension of the serum, and that the therapeutic 

 effect seems closely related to the increase in complement. The reaction is diphasic, comple- 

 ment being at first diminished. 



Coagulation time and sedimentation rate have been studied by Schmidt,'^ Salomon, ^^ and 

 the Lohrs.''' The coagulation time is diminished and the sedimentation rate shortened after 

 non-specific injections. 



The chemistry of the blood gives evidence of a primary acidosis, '^ followed by a rather 

 long-continued alkalosis. The most thorough study is that of Vollmer.'^ He describes a pro- 

 gressive diminution in acid excretion of the urine after a transient increase on the day of the 

 injection, the H-ion concentration shifting to the alkaline side. With this there is an un- 



' Petersen, W. F., Jaffe, H. R., Levinson, S. A., and Hughes, T. P.: ibid., pp. 323-407. 1923. 



^ Sachs, H.: Dent. mel. Wchr., 53, 93. 1927. 



3 Kapoczweski, A.: Pharmacodynamie des Colloids. Paris: G. Doin, 1925. 



t Rosenberg, H., and Adelsberger, L.: Zeltschr.f. Imm., 34, 36. 1922. 



s Jobling, James W., and Petersen, W. F.: Jour. Lab. and CI. Med., i, 172, 1915; Jour. Amer. 

 Med. Assoc, 65, 515. 1915 



' Shamberg, J. F., and Brown, H.: Arcli. Int. Med., 35, 537. 1925. 



V Wolter, quoted by Malkin, S. J.: Zeltschr.f. Imm., 46, 194. 1926. 



8 Ling, C. Y.: Arch. Int. Med., 35, 752. 1925. 



'Bulger, H. A.: Jour. Infect. Dis., 19, 832. 1916. "o Falls, F. H.: ibid., 16, 466. 1915. 

 " Malkin, S. J.: Zeltschr.f. Imm., 46, 194. 1926. 



" Schmidt, R., and Kaznelson, P.: Zeil.f. kl. Med., 83, 79. 1916; Med. KL, 12, 171. 1916. 

 '3 Salomon, R., and Vey, E.: Arcli.f. Gyn., 116, 317. 1922; Monatschr.f. Lab. itnd Gyn., 9, 123. 

 1922. 



"• Lohr, W., and H.: loc. cit. 



'5 Eggstein, A. A.: Jour. Lab. and CI. Med., 6, 481. 1921; also Gruenthal, R. M., and Brown, 

 G. M.: loc. cit. 



'* Vollmer, H.: A7. Wchr., 2, 529. 1923. 



