THE MEIOSTAGMIN REACTION 



497 



Diluted serum of patients was mixed with diluted antigen, and 

 the number of drops contained in one cubic centimeter of the mix- 

 ture was immediately determined and again measured after the mix- 

 ture had remained for two hours in the incubator at 37 C. An 

 example of one of Ascoli's early measurements is given in the follow- 

 ing protocol: 



1 c. c. of serum of typhoid patient diluted to 1-10. 



1 c. c. alcoholic typhoid extract diluted to ., 



1 c. c. alcoholic typhoid extract diluted to 



1 c. c. alcoholic precipitate taken up in distilled 

 water. . 



1 c. c. in 1 0/00 alcohol in 1 c. c. 0.85 per cent. 

 NaCl solution . . . 



1 0/00 

 1 0/000 

 1 0/000 

 1 0/00 

 1 0/000 

 1 0/000 

 1 0/00 

 1 0/000 

 1 0/0000 



Number of drops 



After 



Immedi- 2 hours in 

 ately incubator 



57.8 

 58.1 



57.5 

 57.5 



57.0 

 57.0 



58.1 

 57.7 



57.4 

 57.6 



57.0 

 56.9 



56.5 

 56.5 



56.5 

 56.6 



56.7 

 56.5 



56.6 

 56.7 



59.7 

 59.9 



59.4 

 59.6 



59.3 

 59.2 



59.7 

 59.6 



59.4 

 59.2 



59.2 

 59.4 



58.0 

 57.8 



57.5 

 57.4 



57.4 

 57.5 



57.5 

 57.6 



Of course a certain amount of reduction of surface tension results 

 when various antigens are brought together with normal sera, but 

 this can be easily controlled by suitable dilution, and must be care- 

 fully taken into consideration in each individual case. Ascoli and 

 Izar have applied this method to the diagnosis of tuberculosis, ty- 

 phoid, and various other diseases, and have reported what seemed to 

 them reliable results. So far experience with the meiostagmin reac- 



