370 ABSTRACTS 



with the particular antigen to be used, and only those selected that 

 react negatively." — P. B. H. 



Studies in Non-Specific Complement Fixation: II. Non-Specific Comple- 

 ment Fixation by Normal Dog Serum. John A. Kolmer, Mary E. 

 Trist and George D. Heist. (Jour. Infect. Diseases, 1916, 

 18,27-31.) 



The study was undertaken to ascertain whether normal dog serum 

 would fix or absorb complement with lipoidal and bacterial antigens 

 as had been found to be the case with normal rabbit serum. The 

 technique was that of the Wassermann reaction. It was found that 

 the dog sera tested, whether active or inactivated, are capable of ab- 

 sorbing complement in a large percentage of cases, the greater num- 

 ber of positive reactions appearing in the case of bacterial antigens. 

 When lipoidal antigens were used the order of positive reactions varied 

 exactly as in the case of rabbit serum (vide supra). The best reactions 

 with active dog serum were obtained when 0.05 cc. was used. Heat- 

 ing the sera at 55°C. for 30 minutes greatly increased the power 

 for fixation for both groups of antigens, while by heating at a higher 

 temperature the power was lessened. The authors conclude that in 

 complement fixation tests with dog serum, ''it would appear advisable 

 to use the serum in a perfectly fresh and active condition in doses of 

 0.01 to 0.2 cc, after heating the serum at 62°C. instead of 55°C. for 

 half an hour, since this removes, or greatly diminishes the tendency 

 toward non-specific fixation of the complement." — P. B. H, 



Studies in Non-Specific Complement Fixation: III. The Influence 

 of Splenectomy and Anesthetics on the Non-Specific Complement 

 Fixation Sometimes Shown by Normal Rabbit and Dog Sera. John 

 A. Kolmer and Richard M. Pearce. (Jour. Infect. Diseases, 

 1916, 18, 32^5.) 



The aim of the investigation was to gain some understanding of 

 the part played by the spleen in hemolysis, and in the increased resist- 

 ance of erythrocytes after splenectomy. Pre-operative and post- 

 operative sera were tested in both active and inactivated condition 

 in doses of 0.1 cc. against three lipoidal extracts (vide supra) and two 

 bacterial antigens (Staphylococci and B. coli). Ether, chloroform and 

 nitrous oxid were employed as anesthetics. The results of the experi- 

 ment showed that anesthetics, as employed, weaken or remove tem- 

 porarily the power of normal rabbit and dog sera of fixing or absorbing 

 the complement with lipoidal and bacterial antigens in a non-specific 

 manner. "This alteration usually is not apparent at once after the 

 administration of the anesthetic but is found after one to three days; 

 later the serum returns to its former power of causing this non-specific 

 fixation." Ether-administration was not found to reverse the reaction 

 of negatively-reacting sera. Nitrous oxid oxygen had no appreciable 

 influence on the serum reactions of normal rabbits. "Splenectomy 

 alone probably has no influence upon the property in normal rabbit and 



