552 ANAPHYLAXIS 



Jobling and Petersen believe that the matrix is, indeed, the protein of 

 the animal's own serum. Doerr 1 likewise regards it as highly improbable 

 that the poison is generated by the bacteria or other foreign protein, 

 but believe that it is derived from the serum through the absorption of 

 inhibitory antibodies by the bacteria, precipitates, etc. There can be 

 no doubt, however, of the high specificity of the anaphylactic reaction, 

 which indicates that specific ferments are produced for the protein 

 injected, and while the discussion cannot be considered closed, it would 

 appear that, for the present, it would be best to accept the theory that 

 anaphylaxis is due to the cleavage of the injected anaphylactogen by 

 normal and specific proteolytic ferments. 



3. Further evidence of the role played by protein cleavage products 

 in anaphylaxis is furnished by the action of /3-imidazolyethylamin 

 ("histamin"), an amin produced by splitting off carbon dioxid from 

 histidin by chemical or bacterial agencies. This substance, first pre- 

 pared synthetically by Windam and Vogt, 2 and studied by Ackermann, 3 

 Harger and Dale, 4 and especially Dale and Laidlow, 5 produces, in 

 doses of about 0.5 mg., effects resembling acute anaphylactic intoxica- 

 tion. Heyde 6 has described similar effects with methylguanidin, and 

 other amins may possibly be involved. 



ANAPHYLACTIN (ALLERGIN) 



There is a diversity of opinion concerning the nature of the substance 

 developed in the body under the influence of the anaphylactogen, which 

 is capable of cleaving the latter and producing the anaphylactic poison. 

 That such a body exists in the blood of the sensitized animal is shown by 

 the production of passive anaphylaxis in normal animals by injecting 

 into them a few cubic centimeters of blood or serum from a sensitized 

 animal. The animal so sensitized becomes at once or within a few hours 

 sensitive to the specific anaphylactogen, regardless of the species of 

 animal furnishing the immune serum. 



Terminology. Various names have been applied to this body. 

 Vaughan objects to the term "antibody," although this designation 

 would seem to be appropriate if we consider that it is a reactionary 

 product or antibody to the protein responsible for its production, al- 



1 Handb. d. path. Mikroorgan., Kolle and Wassermann, second edition, ii, 947. 



2 Berichte, 1907, xl, 3691. 3 Zeitschr. f . physiol.Chem., 1910, xlv, 504. 

 4 Proc. Chem. Soc., 1910, xxvi, 128. 5 Jour. Physiol., 1911, Ixi, 318. 



6 Cent. f. Physiolog., 1911, 25, 441; 1912, 26, 401. 



