SPECIFIC BACTERIAL PRODUCTS 463 



certain bacteria, for example the guinea pig to cholera mi- 

 crospira (see Pfeiffer's phenomenon), there is thrown off from 

 the cells of the body as a result of the stimulation of the 

 cholera organisms free receptors which possess two combining 

 groups of atoms, one specific for the antigen or in this case 

 the cholera microspira, the other adapted to the haptophore 

 group of atoms of the complement. These free receptors pos- 

 sessing two combining groups of atoms are known as immune 

 bodies, intermediary bodies or amboceptors. Specific ambo- 

 ceptors are necessary for the production of bacteriolysis, 

 hemolysis and cytolysis. 



The antitoxins, agglutinins and precipitins are specific 

 antibodies possessing but one combining group of atoms or 

 uniceptors. These combine with the toxin. The immune 

 bodies are specific antibodies possessing two combining groups 

 of atoms or amboceptors. These unite one group of combining 

 atoms with the specific antigen, the other group of combining 

 atoms with the complement. In the production of hemolysis 

 or bacteriolysis Emil Fischer has likened the receptor of the 

 corpuscle or bacterium to a lock, the amboceptor to the key, 

 and the complement to the hand that turns the key. There 

 must be the definite key for the definite lock and when in place 

 any hand can turn it. The amboceptor is the specific body 

 through which the normal complement can work. 



The subject of toxins, antitoxins and immunity is so large that 

 the student is referred to the studies of Ehrlich, Morgenroth, Sachs, 

 Bordet, Metchnikoff and others for a more exhaustive study of the 

 subject. There is a large current literature and several volumes 

 have been published concerning it. Of these the following are rec- 

 ommended: Collected Studies v,n Immunity, by Paul Ehrlich, trans- 

 lated by Ch. Boldman; Immunity, by E. Metchnikoff; Handbuch der 

 Technik u. Methoden der Immunitatsforschung, by Kraus and Leva- 

 diti, two volumes. The small volume, Immune Sera by Wassermann, 

 translated by Boldau and Handbuch der Serumtherapie, by Wolff- 

 Eisner. 



