264 FERMENTS AND ANTIFERMENTS 



6. All investigators in this field are in general accord regarding the 

 constant presence of the reaction in the serums of pregnancy, but there 

 is a growing tendency to regard the ferment as non-specific and capable 

 of splitting the coagulated protein of other organs, and, indeed, of or- 

 gans from the lower animals. For example, Pearce and Williams 1 

 have found positive reactions with pregnancy serums, liver, and kidney; 

 normal male serums and those of various diseases have reacted with 

 coagulated placenta. Williams and Ingraham 2 have had positive re- 

 actions with definitely non-pregnant persons. Michaelis and Luger- 

 mark 3 have likewise found non-specific reactions. Pearce is inclined 

 to believe that there is a general proteolytic ferment that is not specific 

 for any one protein. He is careful to add that this opinion is based en- 

 tirely upon the results of the dialyzation method. Abderhalden has 

 usually replied to these adverse criticisms by calling attention to possible 

 errors in technic, and at the present time all that one can do is to follow 

 his directions closely arid preserve a mind receptive to results until the 

 question of specificity is settled definitely. 



SERO-ENZYMES IN DISEASE 



Cancer. Freund and Abderhalden 4 claim to have found protective 

 ferments in the serum of cancer that will digest coagulated cancer pro- 

 tein in the same manner as the ferments in pregnancy digest placental 

 protein. Frank and Heiman 5 reported positive results in 53 of 54 cases 

 of cancer; Markins and Munze, 6 Epstein, 7 Gambaroff, 8 Erpicum, 9 

 Brockman, 10 Lampe, 11 Lowy, 12 Ball, 13 and others have reported highly 

 favorable results. Frankle 14 and Lindig 15 have found the reactions 

 generally non-specific in character. 



1 Surg., Gyn., and Obst., April, 1913, 411. 



2 Colorado Med., Denver, 1913, x, 367. 



3 Deut, med. Wochenschr., 1914, No. 7, 316. 



4 Munch, med. Wochenschr., 1913, 14, 763. 

 6 Berl. klin. Wochenschr., 1913, 1, No. 14. 



6 Berl. klin. Wochenschr., 1913, 1, No. 17. 



7 Wien. klin. Wochenschr., 1913, xxvi, No. 17. 



8 Berl. klin. Wochenschr., 1913, 1, No. 17. 



9 Bull, de 1'Acad. Roy. de Belg., 1913, xxvii, 624. 



10 Lancet, London, November 15, 1913. 



11 Munch, med. Wochenschr., 1914, Ixi, No. 9. 



12 Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1914, Ixii, 437. 



13 Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., 1914, Ixii, 599. 



14 Deutsch. med. Wochenschr., xl, No. 12. 



16 Munch, med. Wochenschr., 1913, 60, 288. 



