10.2 IMMUNE SERA 



of the work of Bordet but claimed that if the sub- 

 stance produced is not an anti-immune body it is 

 anti-complementophile. 



Moreschi 1 studied the anti-haemolytic action of 

 serum and concluded that the action was one of 

 complement fixation, due to the production of anti- 

 albumins as a result of the injection of normal serum. 



Muir and Martin 2 recorded similar findings and 

 the existence of anti-complements is still to be 

 regarded as not proved. 



Fluctuations in the Amount of Complement and 

 other Active Substances in the Blood We have 

 come to know certain conditions under which there 

 may be a decrease of certain complements in 

 normal serum. Ehrlich and Morgenroth showed 

 that in rabbits poisoned with phosphorus . and in 

 whom, therefore, the liver was badly damaged^ 

 the serum on the second day (the height of the 

 disease) had lost its power to dissolve guinea-pig 

 blood, and that this was due to a disappearance of 

 the complement. Metchnikoff also reported that in 

 an animal suffering from a continuing suppurating 

 process, the complement had fallen considerably in 

 amount. Especially interesting are the experi- 

 ments of v. Dungern, who showed that animal cells, 

 hence emulsions of fresh organs, are able to attract 

 and combine with complements. 



1 Berliner Klin. Woch., No. 37, 1905. 



2 The Journal of Hygiene, Vol. 6, 1906. 



