222 CHEMISTRY OF THE IMMUNITY REACTIONS 



an antihcmolysin for saponin, and therefore hemoglobinuria is not 

 produced by all saponins on intravenous injection. Careful immu- 

 nization leads to a slight increase in this antihemolytic action of the 

 serum, possibly due to an increased formation of cholesterol (Ko- 

 bert). The resistance of corpuscles to saponin hemolysis varies in 

 disease, being especially low in jaundice (M'Neil).^ 



A study of the toxicity of the members of this group by Kobert^ 

 shows that in general they have similar properties, but that minor 

 differences exist between them. All cause hemolysis, some in dilu- 

 tion as great as 1:100,000. Some produce hemoglobinuria when in- 

 jected intravenously, others do not. All paral3^ze the heart, but the 

 injuries to the central nervous system are the chief cause of death. 

 Marked local changes are produced at the site of injection, but the 

 leucocytes are apparently not injured, although sterile suppuration 

 is produced. There is a period of latency after intravenous injection 

 of small doses — twenty-four hours or more — before the tappearance 

 of symptoms. 



Sapotoxin is one of the most actively toxic and hemolytic products of quillaja. 



Cyclamin is also a member of this group (derived from Cyclamen), and is 

 said to be the most active of all as a hemolytic agent (Tufanow). 



SoLANiN^ is obtained from all parts of the potato plant, combined with malic 

 acid; it is found particularly in young sjjrouts, but not in any considerable amounts 

 in normal potatoes.^ Its formula is unknown ,but as it splits up into an alkaloid 

 {solanidin) and sugar it is called a gly co-alkaloid. In its action it resembles the 

 saponins, being a powerful protoplasmic poison, killing bacteria, and hemolyzing 

 blood in very great dilutions." 



A great number of hemolytic poisons are obtained from poisonous mushrooms. 

 Best known of these is: 



Helvellic Acid, from Helvella esculenta, which has the empiric formula 

 CiaHiiiO?.'" Intravenously injected it produces hemoglobinuria and icterus, with 

 hemoglobin infarcts in the kidneys (Bostrocm)." 



Phallin, or Amanita hemolysin, described by Robert as a toxalbumin, has 

 been found iDy Abel and Ford to be a glucoside, and thus belongs to the saponin 

 group. (See Chap. vi. for further discussion.) In the leaves of the ivy, Hedera 

 helix, a hemolytic glucoside has been found by Moore. i- It is of interest that 

 Faust believes the poisonous agent of cobra venom to be a glucoside, closely re- 

 sembling sai^otoxin. 



As will be seen, all these last-mentioned vegetable hemolytic agents 

 are essentially different from either the bacterial or scrum hemol.ysins, 

 or from the abrin, ricin, crotin, or robin group, in that the}' are of 

 relatively simple chemical composition, and quite unlike proteins, en- 

 zymes, or toxins. The manner in which they cause hemol^'sis is 

 unknown, but from their relation to saponin it is probable that, like 



'•> Jour. Path, and Bact., 1910 (15), 56. 

 6 Arch. exp. Path. u. Pharm., 1SS7 (23), 233. 



'Literature, see Meyer and Schmiedeberg, Arcii. f. exi). Path. u. Pharm., ISOo 

 (36), 361; Perles, ibid.,'\mO (2{)), SS. 



* See Kunkel, "Handbuch der Toxokologie," p. 873. 



" Concerning human solanin jjoisoning see liothe, Zeit. f. Hyg., l*.)19 (88), 1. 

 lOBoehm and Kiilz, Arch. exp. Path. u. Pliarm., 1S85 (19), -103. 



11 Deut. Arch, kliii. Med., 1883 (32), 209. 



12 Jour. Pharnuicol., 1913 (4), 263. . 



