IMMUNITY 21 



the hemolytic action ; thus anti-hemolytic sera have 

 been produced, the action of which may depend either 

 upon the presence of anti-complement or anti- 

 amboceptor. 



The above authors, as well as Miiller, have definitely 

 demonstrated the presence of anti-amboceptor against 

 hemolytic amboceptor. Here, then, we have two 

 facts which may have enormous bearing upon bacterial 

 infection, and on the course of the diseases which they 

 produce. Let us take the case of normal rabbit 

 serum and anthrax bacilli. It has been already stated 

 that in vitro this rabbit serum is highly bactericidal 

 for anthrax bacilli. In other words, the serum con- 

 tains a large amount of immune bodies. The ambo- 

 ceptors being activated by the complement, rapidly 

 destroy the bacteria. Now, in vivo what possibly 

 happens is this. On the entrance of the bacilli an 

 excess of immune body may be rapidly formed, and this 

 excess, circulating freely, may become resorbed and 

 give rise to anti-amboceptors, which at once inhibits 

 the bactericidal or bacteriolytic action of the serum, 

 thereby allowing the bacteria to rapidly multiply ; or 

 another phenomenon known as '* deviation of the 

 complement" may occur, caused by an excess of 

 immune body in the serum, which also inhibits its 

 bacteriolytic power ; or the exact ratio of amboceptors 

 and complement which gives the maximum degree of 

 immunity may not be present. It is a fact that 

 immune body and complement act in inverse ratio to 

 each other ; thus, if there is a deficiency of immune 



