222 VUKMfsTh'Y OF THE JMMi.MTY L'EACTIOSS 



ineut is virtually a lipase which splits the lipoids out of the corpuscles. 

 Bordet believes that the hemolysin causes a lesion of the stroma which 

 changes the resistance to osmotic influences. Dick'*^ has found evi- 

 dence that the complement is a ferment formed in the liver, and 

 that it causes actual proteolytic changes. Jobliug ^^ associates the 

 serum lipase with the hemolytic complement.^*"' Ohta'"' observed no 

 increase in non-coagulable nitrogen during hemolj'sis, but Dick 

 found an increase in the free amino acids ; therefore, as yet agreement 

 has not been reached as to whether hemolysis depends in any way 

 upon proteolysis or lipolysis in the corpuscle stroma. 



Although the serum of one animal may complement the immune 

 bodies in serum of several other varieties, and also produce lysis of 

 many sort of cells, it may be that not one complement does all the 

 complementing ; Elirlich and others have asserted tliat one serum may 

 contain several complements of slightly differing natures. Noguchi,°° 

 Liebermann and Fenyvessy, and others have pointed out the striking 

 resemblance between hemolytic complement and certain compounds of 

 soaps or lipoids with serum proteins, and it is possible that such 

 compounds are of importance in serum hemolysis; but there seems 

 also to be evidence of the existence of distinct protein complements, 

 entirely different from these,^^ and it is possible that the protein com- 

 plements are the important agents in specific hemolysis by immune 

 sera." 



Antibodies can be obtained for both complement and hemolytic 

 amboceptor by immunizing against serum containing them, and in 

 many serums antihcmolysins exist normally. Against certain vegeta- 

 ble hemolysins this antihemolytic action is \evy strong (Kobert). 

 Antihcmolysins are generally anticomplements, but in a number of 

 instances anti-amboceptors have been obtained. The existence of im- 

 mune bodies specific for hemolytic amboceptor and complement, sup- 

 ports the view that both of these agents are proteins. 



Hemagglutinin. — Agglutination of red corpuscles occurs under the 

 influence of immune serum as well as under the influence of some 

 normal serums. In all respects the principles seem to be the same as 



47 .Tour. Infect. Dis.. 1913 (12), 111. 



•ts.Toblinfr and Bull, .Tour. Exper. Med., 101.3 (17), (51: also Bergel. Deut. Arch, 

 klin. Med., 1012 (100), 47. 



48a Thiele and Embleton, however, state that hemolysin is not a lipase, and 

 that tlie hemohtic power of serum has no relation to its lipolytic power (Jour. 

 Path, and Bact., 1914 ( 10) , 349) . 

 "49Biochem. Zeit., 1012 (40), 247. 



soBiochem. Zeit., 1907 (6), 172 and 327; Jour. Exper. Med., 1907 (0), 430. 



•'■1 See Liefmann. et al., Zeit. Imnuuiitiit., 1012 (13), 150. 



52 Liebermann and Fenyvessy (loc. cit.) si ludieve that serum hemolysis takes 

 place as follows: First, tlie aml)0('eptor acts on the corpust'Ic, injurinL; it so 

 that it becomes h-ss resistant; second, tliis combination acts upon the comple- 

 ment (a soap compound) and frees the soap so tliat it can unite with tlie ambo- 

 ceptor-corpuscle system; third, tlie soaj) causes liemolysis; fourth (aa a separate 

 step), the escape of the hcnio^'h)])iii from tlie corpuscles. 



