PROTEIN SENSITIZATION OR ANAPHYLAXIS 231 



by which it is induced. All anaphylactogens contain a 

 sensitizing intramolecular group which is not the same in 

 any two kinds of proteins, hence the specificity of sensiti- 

 zation. We have succeeded in splitting some proteins into 

 non-poisonous, sensitizing, and into poisonous, non-sensi- 

 tizing portions. Whether all proteins contain a sensitizing 

 group or not has not been determined. Our views con- 

 cerning anaphylactogens differ from those held by others. 

 They think that in mixed proteins, such as blood-serum, 

 corpuscles, organ cells, egg-white, etc., there is some one 

 protein which sensitizes and some other one which is toxic. 

 We hold that the sensitizing and toxic proteins are groups 

 in the same molecule. We think that we have demon- 

 strated this by obtaining both groups from such pure proteins 

 as edestin. Artificially crystallized proteins, such as egg 

 albumen prepared by the method of Hopkins and Pinkus, 

 are not suitable for this work because they are changed 

 chemically by the ammonium sulphate, and are not split 

 up by our method. From our researches we conclude that 

 the sensitizing group of the protein molecule is much more 

 complicated in its chemical structure than the toxic group. 

 Further discussion along this line will be indulged in when 

 we take up the poisonous portion. 



We are aware of the claims made by Bogomoletz 1 and 

 by Pick and Samanouchi, 2 that lipoids may act as anaphyl- 

 actogens, but they have not convinced us that their prepara- 

 tions were wholly free from proteins. 3 Besides, it is possible 

 that a non-protein may act indirectly as an anaphylactogen. 

 This may be due to the substance causing some cleavage 

 in the proteins of the body and these products may sensitize. 

 This question will arise again when we discuss hypersensi- 

 tiveness to certain medical agents. 



Volatile Sensitizers. Rosenau and Amos 4 have demon- 

 strated that the exhaled air contains a substance which 



1 Zeitsch. f. Immunitatsforschung, v and vi. 2 Ibid., i, 676. 



s Thiele and Embleton, Zeitschr. f. Immunitatsforschung, 1913, xvi, 160, 

 have investigated the claim of Bogomoletz that lipoids act as anaphylacto- 

 gens and have been unable to confirm his work. 



4 Jour. Med. Research, 1911, xxv, 35. 



