Nov. 19, 192 1 



Hemotoxins from Parasitic Worms 



399 



in a mortar, extracted in physiological salt solution, filtered, and the 

 filtrate tested on sheep corpuscles. The results in this case were positive. 



A number of experiments were made with salt-solution extracts of 

 powdered Ascaris lumbricoides. Rabbit and sheep corpuscles were 

 used in nearly all experiments with these extracts. The results of these 

 experiments were positive when the extracts were made from thoroughly 

 powdered material; otherwise the extracts were only slightly hemolytic. 



Extracts of powdered material of Ascaris hmihricoides were usually 

 prepared as follows: A definite quantity of powder was added to a 

 definite volume of physiological salt solution in a flask, the latter was 

 shaken thoroughly, and the material was extracted for a few hours to 

 two days in a refrigerator without the addition of any preservative, or 

 extracted in an incubator, in which case a few drops of chloroform were 

 added. The mixtures were then filtered, and in cases in which chloro- 

 form had been added the filtrate was left in an open receptacle in order 

 to get rid of the chloroform by evaporation. The salt-solution filtrates 

 were then tested as to their hemolytic power. 



An example of results of these experiments is given in Table II, in 

 which a number of tests are summarized. 



Table II. — Effects of salt-solution extracts of powdered Ascaris lumbricoides on red blood 



corpuscles « 



Experi- 

 ment 

 No. 



Kind of 

 erythrocytes.'' 



Quantity of extract. 



5 drops 



8 drops 



8 drops (boiled) 



10 drops (boiled) 



10 drops (heated at 60° C. 30 minutes) 



xo drops salt solution 



8 drops 



10 drops 



10 drops salt solution 



8 drops 



10 drops 



10 drops salt solution 



Results 



after 2 hours 



at 37° C. 



+ -H + 



+ + 

 + + + 



+ + + 



+ 

 + + 



Results 



after 20 

 hours.d 



+ + + 

 + + + 



+ + + 



1— indicates negative results. + indicates slight hemolysis. ++ indicates marked but incomplete 

 hemolysis. + + + indicates complete hemolysis. 



^ Five drops of a s per cent suspension of washed rabbit erythrocytes and a 3 per cent suspension of 

 washed sheep erythrocytes were used in these experiments. 



c In experiments i to 8, inclusive, the following extract was used; 0.85 gm. of powder were suspended in 

 85 cc. of salt solution and extracted in an incubator for 24 hours. In experiments 10 to 12 the extraction 

 was made as follows: i gm. of powder was extracted in 10 cc. of salt solution in a refrigerator. 



<* After remaining in an incubator for 2 hours the tubes containing the corpuscles and extracts were in 

 some instances transferred to a refrigerator (8° C.) where they were kept for 18 hours longer before the 

 final reading was taken. 



