588 ANAPHYIAXIS 



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

 but believes 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 both to the cleavage of the injected anaphylactogen 

 and the blood-serum by normal and specific proteorytic ferments. 



The Anaphylactin (Allergin) or Anaphylactic Antibody. 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- 

 though, instead of being protective to the animal, its host, it is just the 

 reverse. Richet named it toxogen, because it is responsible for the pro- 

 duction of a poison. Otto speaks of it as reaction body, Nicolle as an 

 albuminolysiti, Besredka as sensibilisin, and von Pirquet as allergin. 



Nature of Anaphylactin. A full discussion of the nature of this body, 

 which is believed to cleave the anaphylactogen and set free the anaphy- 

 latoxin or protein poison, would involve a review of the entire subject 

 of antibodies and immunity in general. Vaughan regards it as a ferment, 

 evidently meaning that an amboceptor and a complement act together 

 and produce lysis or disruption of the protein molecule. It is difficult, 

 and indeed impossible, at this time to discuss with any degree of definite- 

 ness the propriety of regarding an immune and cytolytic amboceptor 

 as a ferment, just as we regard trypsin as a ferment. If the ferments 

 are to be considered as identical with amboceptors, then we must regard 

 Abderhalden's protective ferments as cytolysins, but certainly, in the 

 light of our present knowledge, we are hardly justified in drawing hard 

 and fast lines. Therefore while I have confined the discussion of the 



