216 INFECTION AND RESISTANCE 



We report von Dungern's results exactly as he states them in 

 his last summary, since his well-known experimental ability necessi- 

 tates serious consideration of all of his work. We may say, however, 

 that a survey of the entire literature of complement fixation in the 

 diagnosis of malignant tumors does not yet justify our acceptation 

 of this method as of anything like the established value which the 

 similar method has attained in syphilis. 



COMPLEMENT FIXATION IN GLANDERS 



The diagnosis of glanders by the mallein test and by agglutina- 

 tion has been recently reenforced by the method of complement fixa- 

 tion. In carrying out these tests the method of preparation of the 

 antigen is of the greatest importance. The directions which we give 

 are those employed in the Diagnostic Laboratory of the New York 

 Department of Health, under the immediate supervision of Dr. 

 McNeil and Miss Olmstead, from whom we have our information. 



The particular strain of glanders bacilli employed seems to be of 

 little importance. The organisms are grown on 1.6 per cent, acid 

 glycerin-potato-agar. This stock culture is transplanted every other 

 day. From it cultures are planted upon salt-free veal peptone agar. 

 It is of the greatest importance that this medium shall be neutral to 

 phenolphthalein. After twenty-four hours in the incubator the 

 growth is washed off with distilled water, which also should be neu- 

 tral, and the emulsion heated for from four to six hours at 80 C. in 

 a water bath. It is then filtered through a Buchner filter simply to 

 facilitate subsequent filtration through a Berkefeld "N" or "V" 

 filter. After filtration this antigen is again sterilized for one hour 

 at 80 C. and then on two successive days at 56 C. for one-half hour. 



The fixation tests carried out with these antigens have yielded 

 excellent results as reported by Dr. McNeil 43 at the New York 

 Serological Society. 



It is unnecessary to give further directions as to the technique of 

 this reaction, since it is simply that of complement fixations in gen- 

 eral, the chief difficulty being that of antigen preparation. 



COMPLEMENT FIXATION IN GONORRHEAL INFECTIONS 



There are certain conditions following gonococcus infection of 

 the genito-urinary tract which are not easily distinguished from a 

 number of other tests unless the organisms can be cultivated or a 

 specific serum reaction can be applied. Most important of these are 

 gonorrheal rheumatism, salpingitis, and endocarditis. Complement 

 fixation with the sera of such patients, and an antigen produced from 



43 McNeil, Archibald. N. Y. Serological Soc. Meeting, April 4, 1914. 



