1904] Staphylococcus pyogenes by ffunicm Blood, etc. 153 



B. 



Supernatant fluid of pus 2 vols. 



A. E. W.'s washed corpuscles. ... 2 ,, 

 Staphylococcus emulsion 1 vol. 



Phagocytic index (average of 40 P. W.B.C.), 1'25. 



Ratio of opsonic index of serum to opsonic index of supernatant fluid, 



of pus, 1 : 0'09. 



(4) Determination of the Question as to whether the Opsonins which come 

 into Consideration in Connection with the Protection of the Organism 

 against Staphylococcus Invasion are present in the Blood of the Infant 

 at Birth. 



Opportunity offering, we have thought it worth while to determine 

 whether the protective substances which come into consideration in* 

 connection with the Staphylococcus pyogenes are present in the blood 

 at birth. For this purpose we have made a series of comparative 

 estimations of the opsonic power of the blood of child and mother* 

 employing for this purpose respectively placental blood and blood 

 drawn off directly from the mother immediately after the completion 

 of parturition. We are indebted to Messrs. B. H. Spilsbury and 

 J. Freeman for the collection of the bloods. The observations we have 

 made are as follows : 



Observations. 



Blood drawn off, in the case of the mother, from the finger ; in the 

 case of the child, from the umbilical cord. 



No. 1. 

 A. 



Mother's serum 3 vols. 



A. E. W.'s washed corpuscles ... 3 

 Staphylococcus emulsion 1 vol. 



Phagocytic index (average of 20 P.W.B.C.), 15-1. 



B. 



Child's serum 3 vols. 



A. E. W.'s washed corpuscles ... 3 



Staphylococcus emulsion 1 vol. 



Phagocytic index (average of 20 P.W.B.C.), 16*5. 



No. 2. 



A. 



Mother's serum 2 vols. 



A. E. W.'s washed corpuscles ... 2 



Staphylococcus emulsion 1 vol. 



Phagocytic index (average of 20 P.W.B.C.), 12'65. 



