HAEMOLYSIS AND PHAGOCYTOSIS OF RED BLOOD CORPUSCLES II 



In dealing with the first point, a question naturally suggesting itself 

 was how do these two substances, viz., that which induces phagocytosis 

 and the haemolytic amboceptor behave towards heat ? If the one be 

 partially destroyed while the other is not, then naturally one would 

 conclude that the two are not identical. 



In order to procure information on this point, the following mode of 

 procedure was adopted : — A rabbit was immunised against the red blood 

 cells of the ox. The serum of this rabbit became haemolytic for these 

 red blood cells, '002 c.c. ultimately producing, when fully complemented 

 with fresh guinea-pig serum, complete haemolysis of 2 c.c. of a 5 % 

 suspension of the red cells, after two hours at 37° C. and 12 hours at 

 room temperature; '0001 c.c. produced a trace of haemolysis under the 

 same conditions. 



The following series of tests were directed towards ascertaining 

 whether the haemolytic amboceptor (fixateur) was thermolabile or 

 thermostable. 



Two separate portions of the serum were taken, one being heated at 

 55° C for 15 minutes, the other being left unheated. Two series of 

 corresponding dilutions were made from these, and to each tube 2 c.c. of 

 a 5 7o suspension of the washed red cells of the ox were added with 

 •2 c.c. of fresh guinea-pig serum as complement. Both series were kept 

 at 37° C. for two hours, and subsequently at 0° C. for 24 hours. The 

 corresponding dilutions showed exactly corresponding degrees of 

 haemolysis, even when examined by means of von Fleischl's haemometer. 

 These results, which are given in detail elsewhere (^'^), and which were 

 confirmed by repeated subsequent experiments, indicate that there is no 

 destruction of the haemolytic amboceptor after an exposure of 15 

 minutes to a temperature of 55° C. 



Similar experiments were also made on the substance inducing 

 phagocytosis of red blood cells. 



■ These effects were very different from those obtained by heating the 

 haemolytic amboceptor. 



The method adopted for the performance of the phagocytic tests was 

 that invented by Wright for micro-organisms. Equal parts of serum, 

 of the usual 5 7o suspension of red blood cells and of the washed human 

 leucocytes were mixed in capillary pipettes, and placed at 37° C. for 

 15 minutes, films being then made, and stained with Leishman's stain. 



(3") 



