162 APPLIED IMMUNOLOGY 



closely with those of the Wassermann reaction carried 

 out simultaneously. In early cases of syphilis the sero- 

 enzyme reaction was positive earlier than the Wasser- 

 mann. In cases of tabes and paresis in which the 

 cerebrospinal fluid was tested the reaction was never 

 positive, showing that the enzyme is not present in the 

 cerebrospinal fluid. The sero-enzyme test, moreover, 

 was positive in cases of tabes in which the Wasser- 

 mann reaction of the blood-serum was negative. 



Abderhauden-Fauser Reaction in Mental Diseases 



Fauser {Milnch. med, Wochenschr,, Nov. 18, 

 1913, p. 384) applied the Abderhalden technic to the 

 diagnosis of certain mental diseases, using as antigen 

 tissue from the sex glands. In the case of males he 

 employed testicular tissue, and in females ovarian tis- 

 sue. According to his findings, the serum only of 

 patients with dementia pr^ecox contained protective 

 ferments against these tissues, which caused him to re- 

 gard the reaction as specific for the diagnosis of this 

 disease. Later workers, however, have found that 

 other mental diseases, such as paresis, manic depres- 

 sive insanity and epilepsy, occasionally produced posi- 

 tive reactions. In a recent article, Simon {Jour, A, 

 31, A,j May 30, 1914, p. 1701) concludes that a posi- 

 tive reaction, while not specific for dementia precox as 

 held by Fauser, is the rule in dementia pr^ecox, while 



