122 Chapter V 



Tchistovitch confirming this' fact has added to it the observation that 

 the resistance of the red corpuscles of the rabbit is most often found 

 when the serum loses its antitoxic power. If the receptors of the 

 red corpuscles of immunised rabbits, owing to their great affinity 

 for the haptophore group of the ichthyotoxin molecule, only attract 

 the toxophore group of this poison, as the lightning-conductor when 

 badly insulated attracts the lightning, the red corpuscles should 

 [130] never manifest resistance. To explain this contradiction we must not 

 suppose that the red blood corpuscles which have become resistant 

 have got rid of their receptors. In fact, if these receptors are so 

 necessary to the nutrition of the cell that their absence has set up 

 this extraordinary over-production which has inundated the fluids, it 

 is evident that one cannot admit the existence of red corpuscles 

 entirely deprived of corresponding receptors. 



When examined from different points of view the hypothesis of 

 the production of antihaemotoxin by the red corpuscles is surrounded 

 with very great difficulties. It appears to be probable, therefore, that 

 the source of this antitoxin must be sought for in other cell elements, 

 and we may be allowed to recall to mind those cells which manifest a 

 general and local reaction of the most constant kind after each in- 

 jection of ichthyotoxin. Tchistovitch has observed that eel's serum 

 when introduced into rabbits in non-fatal but immunising doses 

 excites a marked hypeiieucocytosis. 



The question of the origin of anticytotoxins being so complicated, 

 it has been necessary for its elucidation to seek an experimental 

 method of excluding the organ in which the antibody is supposed to 

 have its origin. As we cannot think of eliminating the red or white 

 corpuscles, nor the greater part of the tissues and organs, there 

 remains only one way of bringing about this result. It is the sup- 

 pression of the male genital organs. We know already that the 

 injection of semen readily excites the production of a spermotoxin, 

 and that this spermotoxin gives rise to the development of a cor- 

 responding antispermotoxin. If it is the spermatozoa, that is to say 

 the elements having a particular affinity for the spermotoxin, which 

 elaborate the antitoxin we must conclude that castrated males would 

 be incapable of producing it. With this in view we have carried out a 

 great number of experiments which have amply proved to us that male 

 rabbits when deprived of their sexual organs are fully as capable of 

 developing antispermotoxin in their fluids as are control rabbits 

 in which the male genital apparatus remains intact. Doe-rabbits, 



