II 



also thinks the protein is a heteroproteose. Dechaunne con- 

 siders it to be a mixture of at least three proteins or groups 

 of proteins, probably proto and dysproteoses and a substance 

 like heteroproteoses. Neumeister showed that the Bence 

 Jones protein is not heteroproteose and did not believe that 

 there was any relation between digestion and the presence 

 of this substance in the urine. He thought, rather, that 

 it is a substance of a peculiar kind and quite unlike any other 

 that had hitherto been described. Matthes was of the same 

 opinion as Neumeister. 



Simon thinks the Bence Jones protein is formed from the 

 serum globulins, perhaps by an enzymotic action of the tumor 

 cells, and that once formed it is rapidly excreted by the kidney 

 as are all foreign proteins. Kuhne and Chittenden found that, 

 on the basis of elementary composition, the Bence Jones 

 protein resembled heteroglobulose and they also suggest that 

 it may arise from serum globulin. Coriat also thinks it might 

 be formed from serum globulin. He supposes it is formed by 

 the digestive action of leucocytes or bacteria, or more par- 

 ticularly, from the enzymotic action of plasma cells of the bone 

 marrow. Donetti believes that it results from some loss of 

 function of the bone marrow, owing to the destruction of the 

 latter. 



Weber and Hutchison concluded that the Bence Jones 

 protein is formed from granules found in the myelomatous 

 cells. Virchow believed the substance resulted from degenera- 

 tive changes in protein occurring in sarcomata. Weber also 

 thinks it may be due to an abnormal metabolic or degenerative 

 process in the myelocytes, or in the tumor cells derived from 

 the myelocytes or their predecessors. Von Rustizky likewise 

 considered that the substance is produced in connection with 

 the new bone growth. Moitessier believed it is formed by a 

 modification of the albumoids of the blood plasma brought 

 about by the new growth. In a recent paper Weber and 

 Leginham, on account of the histological evidence in the 

 case of multiple myeloma studied by them, think that the 

 cytoplasmic residua of karyolyzed plasma cells may be the 

 source of the Bence Jones protein. 



