24 TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS. 



which, moreover, I have dwelt at some length, per- 

 mits me to refer the reader who is desirous of fuller 

 details to the small work just mentioned. 



The mode of action of diastases resembles sin- 

 gularly closely that of the catalytic substances, 

 and we will admit, for the moment, that they 

 act by intermediary combination, resulting in their 

 rapid decomposition. 



We owe to Ehrlich * a new conception relative 

 to the nature and mode of action of the diastases, 

 and which to-day plays an important rdle in all 

 our conceptions regarding immunity, f 



According to this scientist, the complex mole- 

 cule of albuminoid substances is constituted by 

 a fixed central nucleus, and by a number of lat- 

 eral chains or receptors, fixed to this nucleus, which 

 possess diverse accessory functions, and which 

 serve, particularly, for the nutrition of the cells. 

 These receptors have a great affinity for the vari- 

 ous substances necessary for the support of the 

 living elements, and they seize upon the alimentary 

 substances, in normal life, just as a leaf of the 

 Dioncea seizes a fly which serves as its food. 

 In these special conditions the receptors may 



* EHRLICH: Klinisches Jahrbuch, i897,vi. Proceedings of the 

 Royal Society, 1900, No. 482, p. 424. Notknagles' specielle Patholo- 

 gie und Therapie, 1901, vm, Schlussbetrachtungen, p. 163. 



f To have a complete expose regarding this question, it will 

 be profitable to consult No. 4 of this collection on Scrums 

 Immunisants . 



