1 88 MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



destruction of bacteria (bacteriolysis) is performed by the 

 complement, an unstable body, destroyed at quite low tem- 

 peratures (about 60 C.). The union of the complement 

 with the bacterial cell requires the presence of an inter- 

 mediary body, which is more stable, and more resistant to 

 heat. 



Some of the synonyms for these terms are : 



Complement, Intermediary Body, 



Addiment, Amboceptor, 



Cytase, Immune Body, 



Alexin, Substance Sensibilitrice. 



The nature of complements and intermediary bodies has 

 in a large measure been worked out by the study of im- 

 munity to substances not directly related with bacteriology. 

 Among these the blood 1 of various animals and snake 

 venom 2 are notable examples. 



The substances developed or increased by immunization 

 are the intermediary bodies, which have, therefore, also been 

 called immune bodies. Their ultimate source must have 

 been in the cells of the host. They may be supposed to have 

 been receptors originally, which were cast off, after the 

 manner of antitoxins. They are specific for the particular 

 kind of organism used in developing immunity. Whether 

 or not various kinds of complements exist is still in doubt. 



Metchnikoff holds that while intermediary bodies may 

 occur in blood-serum, the complement exists within leuco- 

 cytes and other forms of cells. Union of intermediary 

 bodies with the molecules of a bacterial cell, permits de- 

 struction of the bacteria by the complement in the phagocyte. 



1 Prtidden, Medical Record, February 14, 1903. 



2 Flexner and Noguchi, " Snake Venom in Relation to Hemolysis, 

 etc.," Journal Experimental M'edicine. Vol. VI., 1902, p. 277. Univer- 

 sity of Pennsylvania Medical Bulletin, November; 1902. 



