NEUTRALISATION OF SIMPLE POISONS 2O/ 



According to this the molecular weight of saponin would be 

 7600, if i gramme-molecule of cholesterin (C 27 H 46 O = 386) 

 is supposed to be equal to a gramme equivalent, and the 

 same is valid for the saponin, supposed to be pure. 



The different blood suspensions (from horse blood), the 

 concentration of which varies in the proportion i : 4, give 

 within the experimental errors the same value for the 

 toxicity. This circumstance seems to indicate that the 

 absorption of a part of the poison in the erythrocytes does 

 not disturb the equilibrium. This depends probably upon 

 the circumstance that the quantity of poison absorbed by 

 the erythrocytes is insignificant compared with that in the 

 surrounding medium. The saponin-cholesterin reaction 

 was selected for this special investigation because its 

 velocity of reaction is so high that it cannot be measured 

 with the methods now used. The mixtures of saponin 

 (in 2 per cent aqueous solution) and of cholesterin (in 

 o.i n. = 3.86 per cent ethereous solution) were mixed, and 

 held at 37 C. for three hours. The ether which did not 

 evaporate in this time was removed in vacuo, after which 

 so much salt-solution was added that the quantity of saponin 

 in the solution was i per cent. Then the quantities of 

 these mixtures to be investigated were placed in test-tubes 

 and so much salt-solution was added that the volume was 

 2 c.c., whereafter 8 c.c. of the blood suspensions were 

 rapidly poured into the test-tubes and mixed by shaking. 

 The test-tubes were then placed in an incubator at 37 C. 

 for three hours, and then put on ice and examined the next 

 day in the usual manner. 



There was therefore an adequate time for the equilibrium 

 to be established after the addition of the blood suspension, 



