( 320 ) 



Olie wishes a sufficient amount of this substance to enter into the 

 exterior of the cells. 



Now the question is -. Is this corroborated (in the present instance) 

 by experiments? In other words is a weaker solution of Iodoform 

 than of Alcohol sufficient to bring about an increased phagocytosis? 

 For we know, that Alcohol is dissolved in fat much less easily than 

 Iodoform. This is indeed the case. It was found for instance that 

 a solution of 1 Iodoform to 5000000 water promoted phagocytosis, 

 whilst the ajuount of Alcohol necessary to do so should certainly 

 be no less than 1 to 20000. 



Camphor dissolves easily in fat or oil, but in water with some 

 difficulty. Hence the fatty surface of the phagocytes will be able to 

 extract from a very weak, watery camphor-solution the required 

 amount of camphor. It is indeed found that a watery camphor- 

 solution in a dilution of 1 to 1000000 greatly increases phagocytosis. 



Chloral dissolves pretty easily in fat, but also in water. And what 

 do we tind? That a much stronger solution of Chloral in NaCl- 

 solution is necessary than of Camphor. And like this we might 

 continue. The greater the distribution-coefficient of the substance 

 between oil and water, the weaker the concentration of the watery 

 solution may be. 



It goes without saying that a mathematical proportion cannot be 

 expected liere. In the first place it is very doubtful whether the 

 same molecular amount of different substances dissolving fat, brings 

 about the same weakening of the lipoid membrane. And secondly 

 another factor comes into play, viz. the noxious effect of the pene- 

 trating substance on the movement of the protoplasm, which effect 

 will most probably be different in the case of different substances. 

 Moreover the exterior of the cells is a fatty substance, but no fat. 

 JS^evertheless a manifest relation is found to exist between the relative 

 solubility {distribution coefficient) of the substances in oil and loater 

 on the one hand, and the concentration necessary to bring about a just 

 perceptible increase of phagocytosis on the other hand. We shall 

 revert to this subject more explicitly elsewhere. For the present we 

 would point out another remarkable phenomenon deserving mention 

 in the same connection. 



When the weakest concentrations are sought of the substances dissolving 

 fat, ivhich cause paralysis of the phagocytes, then it appears that 

 these concentrations correspond loith those, which according to H. Meyer 

 and Overton are necessary to cause narcosis, consequently to paralyze 

 the ganglion-cells. And it has been established by these investigators 



