PROTEIN SENSITIZATION OF ANAPHYLAXIS 331 



from intramolecular rearrangement in the protein molecules 

 of the cell seems a plausible theory, but at present it is 

 only a theory. We know but little of the action of these 

 so-called ferments upon their homologous proteins. Our 

 knowledge of the chemistry of protein sensitizers is exceed- 

 ingly limited, and as we have pointed out, it is highly desirable 

 that work in this direction should be prosecuted with 

 vigor, because we need sensitizers free from the poisonous 

 group. Furthermore, there is the question why small 

 doses of protein induce fever while large doses have no such 

 effect. At present we have no satisfactory answer to this 

 question. If it could be conclusively demonstrated that 

 the toxins are ferments, the subject of the etiology of disease 

 would be greatly simplified. We have elsewhere (see Chapter 

 XV) given our reasons for holding that the toxins are 

 ferments, and at this point we wish to formulate what we 

 believe to be two biological laws: 



(a) When the body cells find themselves in contact with, 

 or permeated by, foreign proteins they tend to elaborate 

 specific ferments which digest and destroy the foreign 

 proteins. 



(6) When body cells are attacked by destructive ferments 

 they tend to elaborate antiferments the function of which 

 is to neutralize the ferments and thus protect the cells. 



Zunz 1 finds the proteoclastic (protein-splitting) properties 

 of blood-serum, as tested on the sensitizing protein, increased 

 in the anaphylactic state. This increase becomes measurable 

 in the pre-anaphylactic stage, usually about the fifth day 

 after the injection, and continues to be measurable to from 

 the twentieth to the sixtieth day. It is not recognizable 

 in blood-serum taken during or soon after anaphylactic 

 shock. Zunz concludes that the increased proteoclastic 

 property of the blood serum is not sufficient to fully account 

 for the phenomena of anaphylaxis. In this conclusion we 

 fully agree with the distinguished Belgian investigator. 

 In our opinion the failure of the blood serum taken during 



1 Zeitsch. f. Immunitiitsforschung, 1913, xvii, 241. 



