740 INTERNAL SECRETIONS AND PRESERVATION OF LIFE. 



hepatic cells. We therefore have, in the latter, oxidizing sub- 

 stance and fihrinogen in active reaction: a fact demonstrated 

 by the elevated temperature of the organ's parenchyma: i.&. t 

 106 F. That tile delicate protoplasmic structures of the he- 

 patic cells would be exposed to destruction were any considerable 

 amount of free trypsin present in the blood seems obvious. 

 Still, it is evident that a certain amount must be allowed to 

 penetrate the organ to assist therein in the destruction of 

 albuminoid toxics that have reached it through the digestive 

 canal. When we consider the enormous number of channels 

 which the liver contains, it is probable that considerable tryp- 

 sin is distributed to this organ in a free state. Beyond the 

 liver, however, and under normal conditions, analysis of the 

 question again supports Metchnikoff, when he states that the 

 trypsin-laden alexin is inclosed within the precincts of the leu- 

 cocyte. But we must now lay stress upon the fact that this 

 only applies to normal conditions, for, as soon as abnormal con- 

 ditions prevail, another order of things is inaugurated. 



Heat we have seen is the predominating factor of the proc- 

 ess through which trypsin is enabled to enact its bactericidal 

 and antitoxic functions. The intracellular functions of leuco- 

 cytes, as we have interpreted them in this work, are depend- 

 ent upon the same initial feature. Referring to the action of 

 pancreatic juice, Foster states 76 : "The activity of the juice in 

 thus converting proteids into peptone is favored by increase of 

 temperature up to 40 C. [104 F.] or thereabouts, and hin- 

 dered by low temperature." 7T That this likewise applies to the 

 trypsin of the pancreatic juice is clearly shown in the following 

 lines from Metchnikoff 7 s pen: "From all their ingenious ex- 

 periments Ehrlich and Morgenroth conclude that the fixative 

 [Ehrlich's intermediary body or amboceptor; our oxidizing 

 substance] is endowed with two different affinities: one for 

 the red corpuscles and another for the complement [the tryp- 

 sin-laden alexin]. Of these two affinities, the stronger is that 

 which combines it with the red corpuscle, for it occurs at a 

 very low temperature. In order that the fixative be enabled to 



* Foster: Loc. cit., p. 282. 

 77 All italics are our own. 



