ABSTRACTS 691 



findings. In 22 cases of various diseases which gave negative reactions, 

 86 per cent were proved to be non-tuberculous. 



With this antigen complement fixation in tuberculosis is considered 

 of as much value as the Wassermann test for syphilis. — M. W. C. 



Studies on Intradermal Sensitization, I. Intradermal Reactions to 

 Emulsions of Normal and Pathologic Skin. John H. Stokes. Jour. 

 Infect. Diseases, 1916, 18, 403-414. 



The present work is an effort to explain certain conflicting observa- 

 tions on cutaneous sensitization. It is reported that normal skin 

 reacts to intradermal injection of skin emulsions in a definite though 

 variable manner, comparable with the papular luetin reaction, and a 

 positive reaction may be judged by the same criteria. No specific 

 character could be established in normal persons for the response 

 toward their own as compared with other's skin emulsions, and no 

 evidence of Sellei's " homoasthesia" was found. A suspension of pro- 

 teins from blood clots gave rise to more transient reactions. In a 

 single test positive results were obtained from the use of a boiled 

 (Kozilek's) emulsion. The emulsion possessed no antigenic properties, 

 and there was no evidence of active anaphylaxis to the proteins. The 

 attempt to immunize guinea-pigs passively by means of sermn from the 

 donors of the emulsion resulted negatively. — P. B. H. 



Studies in Intradermal Sensitization, II. An Intradermal Reaction to 

 Agar and an I nteryr elation of Intradermal Reactions. John H. 

 Stokes. Jour. Infect. Diseases, 1916, 18, 415-436. 

 The author presents the results of his study of reaction to agar and 

 enters upon a general discussion of the mechanism of intradermal 

 reactions in general, with special reference to anaphylatoxin formations. 

 He concludes that: Reactions to luetin, pallidin, agar, iodid, placental 

 tissues and skin emulsions, may be regarded as in part due to the 

 introduction of antiferment adsorbents, the activity of which un- 

 covers the ferments normally present. These proteases split up the 

 proteins of the subject with the formation of anaphylatoxins producing 

 focal necrosis. The course of reaction is determined by the success or 

 failure of the body cells in the effort to restore the antienzjTne-pro- 

 tease balance at the site of the injection. Systemic symptoms may be 

 due to the escape of toxins into the circulation. Such reactions may 

 be considered as non-specific, conceivably due to the action of the 

 patient's own enzymes on his own proteins, not to a specific reaction 

 between the substance injected and a specific amboceptor in the 

 blood. The author suggests that reaction or non-reaction may find 

 its solution in investigations of variability in the ferment balance, 

 either locally or in the body at large. — P. B. H. 



