ANTIBODIES TO PNEUMOCOCCUS 387 



Heterophile Antibodies 



During recent years there has developed considerable interest 

 in the fact that the injection of pneumococci into suitable animals 

 results in the production of heterophile antibodies. It is not neces- 

 sary in this discussion to consider all the various sources and char- 

 acters of heterogenetic antigens which may be used to stimulate 

 the production of heterophile antibodies. Readers interested in the 

 subject are referred to reviews of the subject by Davidsohn 

 (1927), 294 - 7 Bull (1928), 175 and more recently and in special ref- 

 erence to pneumonia, by Plummer (1936). 1099 That heterogenetic 

 antigens and heterophile antibodies may be of biological signifi- 

 cance in pneumococcal infections has been suggested in publica- 

 tions by Bailey and Shorb (1931, 1933), 64 5 and by Powell, Jamie- 

 son, Bailey, and Hyde (1933). 1105 Opposed to these views are the 

 observations of Finland, Ruegsegger, and Felton (1935). 444 It is 

 not proposed to relate technical details of the various experiments 

 dealing with this subject. The Council on Pharmacy and Chemis- 

 try of the American Medical Association requested Plummer to 

 make a report on the use of heterophile antibodies and, since his 

 conclusions appear sound, they are reproduced verbatim. 



The presence of heterophile bodies in animal tissues, animal serums 

 and bacteria is strongly suggestive that these bodies play a part in cer- 

 tain immune reactions. The animal experiments carried out by Bailey, 

 Shorb, Powell, Jamieson, and Hyde do not prove that the heterophile 

 bodies play a role in the pneumococcus immunity of the human being. 

 Some of the results reported are open to question. The work should be 

 repeated by an independent group of investigators before it is accepted. 

 The study by Finland, Ruegsegger and Felton on the heterophile anti- 

 bodies in the serum of patients convalescing from pneumonia and in 

 controls leads one to believe that the heterophile bodies do not have any 

 particular bearing on the course of pneumococcic infections in man. 

 The clinical and statistical evidence cited by the manufacturers of the 

 combined heterophile antibody serum is too limited and is strongly mis- 

 leading. The presence of both rabbit and horse proteins in the serum 

 will increase the incidence and the dangers of allergic reactions. This is 



