BACTERIOLYSINS AND H&MOLYSINS 87 



fitting haptophore group to combine with side chains 

 (receptors) of the living organism, the possibility for 

 the overproduction and throwing off of these recep- 

 tors is given, i.e., the possibility to produce a cor- 

 responding anti-body. 



Specific anti-bodies in the serum as a result of 

 immunizing processes can only be produced, there- 

 fore, by substances which possess a haptophore 

 group and which, in consequence, are able to form 

 a rirm union with a definite part of the living 

 organism, the receptor. This is not the case with 

 alkaloids, e.g., morphine, strychnine, etc., which 

 according to Ehrlich enter into a loose union, a kind 

 of solid solution with the cells. It is for this reason 

 that we are unable to produce any anti-bodies in 

 the blood serum against these poisons. Ehrlich 

 says further that all of the substances taking part 

 in the production of immunity, including of course 

 complement and immune body, have certain 

 definite affinities for each other, and in order 

 to act they must fit stereochemically to each 

 other. 



As we have already seen, we are able by means 

 of -the injection of a variety of substances or cells 

 to produce a similar variety of immune bodies in 

 the serum. Thus we can immunize a rabbit so 

 that its serum will possess specific haemolytic 

 bodies against the red cells of guinea pigs, goats, 

 chickens, and oxen and specific bactericidal 



