IMMUNE BODIES 6 1 



The production of bacteriolysins is explained by Ehrlich's lat- 

 eral-chain hypothesis. Immunization against bacteria which do 

 not produce soluble toxins is easily secured by repeated injection 

 of either dead or living bacteria into the organism. It is not easy, 

 however, to confer passive immunity, as in the case of diphtheria, 

 by the injection of the serum of the immunized animal. The 

 immune body is alone present in the serum generally and some 

 complement must be added to effect bacteriolysis. The serums 

 which aid in the solution of bacteria are known as anti-bacterial 

 serums, which, though not anti-toxic, may check invasions and 

 aid in recovery by destroying bacteria. It is possible to effect 

 an in corpore bacteriolysis in the case of typhoid fever if the 

 immune body and complement are injected in sufficient amounts 

 and proportions. As yet the results are not satisfactory from a 

 clinical standpoint. 



A study of Fig. 18 will show clearly the exact combinations of 

 various substances engaged in the immunity process. Some of 

 the terms must be defined. 



Antigen, the body, bacterium, red blood cell, etc., used for 

 stimulating the production of thermostabile anti-bodies, which 

 latter are then the substances formed against antigens; inciting 

 substance-antigen. 



Toxins, ferments, see above. 



Toxophore, the poison-carrying fraction of the antigen. 



Haptophore, the binding fraction of antigen or anti-body. 



Complement, alexin the normal thermolabile anti-body sub- 

 stance in serum. 



Zymophore, toxophore for agglutinins and precipitins. 



Cytophile fraction is that part of anti-body which combines 

 with cell, while complement phile fraction joins with complement. 



Immune body, the thermostabile anti-body against bacterial or 

 other cells. 



By immunizing with complement or anti-body we obtain 

 respectively anti-complement and anti-immune body which 



