( 319 ) 



of Peruvian Balsam was shaken with 50 cc. of a NaCl-solution of 

 0,9 7o '^ii^J tlicn fiUrated. The filtrate had a nicely aromatic smell. 

 Then various diliilions were made of this filtrate with 0,9 "/o NaCl- 

 solution, viz. dilutions of 1 to 4, 1 to 10 and 1 to aO NaCl-solulion. 

 We subjoin one of the series of experiments. 



This table shows that whilst in NaCl 0.97o <1>g number of white 

 blood-corpuscles having- taken up carbon amounts to 447,,, this value 

 has become 68.27o nnder the influence of the undiluted extract. 

 This means a considerable increase of phagocytosis. I'his increase is 

 still plainly observable at a tenfold dilution; even in a tiftyfold 

 dilution a slight increase could still be established. 



There is no doubt but the i-emarkably favourable results obtained 

 with Peruvian balsam in the treatment of infected wounds, which 

 has hitherto not been explained, must be attributed, partly at least, 

 to an increase of phagocytosis ^). Undoubtedly chemotaxis will be 

 promoted likewise, based as it is upon an increased mobility of the 

 phagocytes. Indeed we have observed before, when studying the 

 results of the action of calcium, that promotion of phagocytosis and 

 promotion of chemotaxis go hand in hand. But the salutary effect of 

 Peruvian balsam will probably not be restricted to the phagocytes 

 only. It will very likely also affect the granular tissue, and the 

 activity of other cells, which play a part in the healing-process. 



II. Phagocytosis and Distribution-coefficient. 



In order to test by further observation our views on the cause of 

 the greater mobility of cells under the influence of substances dissol- 

 ving fat, we have asked ourselves whether there is perhaps some 

 connection between the quantities of these substances to be added to 

 the watery suspension, and the solubility of these substances in the 

 lipoid membrane of the cells. If for instance a solution of Iodoform 

 in NaCl-solution is added to leucocytes, then the Iodoform will soon 

 distribute itself between the lipoid of the leucocytes and the NaCl- 

 solution. The proportion between the concentration of Iodoform in 

 the fat and in the NaCl-solution (water) is called distribution-coefficient 

 as we know. It is obvious that the greater the solubility in fat and the 

 slighter the solubility in water, the more of the Iodoform will pass into 

 the cells. In general it may, therefore, be expected that of a substance 

 which is not so very well soluble in fat, but more so in water, a 

 greater quantity will have to be added to the watery solution, if 



1) More detailed communications on this subject will be published in the "Feest- 

 bundel voor Prof. Hector Treub". 



