Nov. 19, 1921 Hemotoxins from Parasitic Worms 403 



24 hours. It was only partly soluble. After filtering off the alcohol, fresh 

 alcohol was added and the extraction continued for 24 hours longer. 

 The alcoholic extracts were evaporated and the residue was taken up with 

 a small quantity of physiological salt solution. Tested for its hemolytic 

 power, the results were strongly positive on sheep erythrocytes. The 

 alcohol-insoluble fraction was not hemolytic even when large quantities 

 were employed. 



These experiments are rather significant in view of the fact that they 

 show quite conclusively that the hemolytic potency of Ascaris lum- 

 hricoides extracts are due not to fatty acids alone but that another sub- 

 stance or substances, soluble in alcohol and water, must be involved. 



The experiments described above were repeated several months later 

 with similar results. 



Extracts of powdered ascarids in 95 per cent alcohol were made by 

 adding about 6 volumes of alcohol to i volume of powder and removing the 

 alcohol by filtration at intervals of two to three days and adding fresh 

 alcohol. After evaporating the filtrates, which were all mixed together, 

 a brownish residue was left behind which was only partly soluble in ether. 

 The ether-soluble portion as well as the ether-insoluble portion was 

 hemolytic. A portion of the powder, free from the alcohol-soluble frac- 

 tion, was extracted in etlier, but when the latter was removed and evap- 

 orated no residue was left behind. The remaining portion of the powder 

 free from the alcohol-soluble portion was extracted in physiological salt 

 solution, and this extract when tested on red blood cells was found to be 

 nonhemolytic. These experiments show, therefore, that the hemolytic 

 substances of Ascaris lumhricoides are all soluble in alcohol, and confirm 

 the results of the earlier series of experiments with reference to the fact 

 that the ether-soluble fraction of A . lumhricoides contains but a portion 

 of the hemolytic substance. 



Part of the alcoholic extract was divided into two fractions — namely, 

 an absolute alcohol-soluble fraction and an absolute alcohol-insoluble 

 fraction. The latter was hemolytic, whereas the former showed no hemo- 

 lytic power. 



An ether extract of Ascaris lumhricoides powder was redissolved in 

 ether and divided into two fractions by adding acetone in excess, which 

 resulted in the formation of a whitish precipitate. The precipitate was 

 separated from the solution and found to be nonhemolytic. The acetone- 

 ether solution was evaporated and taken up in salt solution. It was also 

 found to be nonhemolytic, whereas prior to precipitation with acetone 

 the ether extract was hemolytic. The precipitate was obtained in quan- 

 tities insufficient to determine its nature. That it was probably largely 

 lecithin ^ can hardly be doubted. As is known, lecithin in quantities in 

 which it alone produces no hemolytic effect can activate other substances 

 and cause them to produce hemolysis. That this actually occurs in the 



' The presence of lecithin in ascarids was demonstrated by Flury Oiii^)- 



