94 ENZYMES 



than to the bacterial poisons, particularly as aseptic suppuration 

 is accompanied by fever. Degenerative changes in nervous tis- 

 sue are associated with autolytic decomposition of the lecithin 

 (Noll * ) and the liberated cholin, or its more toxic derivatives, 

 may be a source of intoxication. 2 In all conditions associated 

 with autolysis, such as resolving pneumonic exudates, large 

 abscesses, softening tumors, etc., albumoses (and peptones?) 

 may appear in the urine. Autolytic products may also be 

 hemolytic (Levaditi 3 ), and they may prevent clotting of the 

 blood (Conradi 4 ). 



Work has been reported upon autolytic processes in a number 

 of pathological conditions, which may be discussed briefly as 

 follows : 



Extldates. The presence of leucin, tyrosin, proteoses, and 

 peptones in pus has been known for many years, and the reason 

 for their appearance is now clear. Miiller, 5 many years ago, 

 observed that purulent sputum digested fibrin, but that non- 

 purulent sputum did not have this property. Achalme 6 found 

 that pus would dissolve gelatine, fibrin, and egg-albumen. As- 

 coli and Mareschi 7 detected autolysis in sterile exudates obtained 

 experimentally. Umber 8 found that ascitic fluid exhibited 

 autolytic changes, which observation could not be confirmed by 

 Schiitz 9 in pleural exudates and ascitic fluids. Zak 10 found that 

 autolysis was inconstant in various exudates. The differences 

 in these results are probably explained by Opie's n observation 

 that in experimental inflammatory exudates the leucocytes are 

 capable of marked autolysis, whereas the serum contains an 

 antibody which holds this autolysis in check ; if the antibody 

 is destroyed by heat, then the serum proteids are also digested 

 by the leucocytic enzymes. This antibody seems to be contained 

 normally in the blood-serum. In old exudates the antibodies 

 are decreased, and autolysis then occurs, explaining the variable 

 results of Umber, Schiitz and Zak. The intracellular proteases 

 of the poly nuclear leucocytes act best in an alkaline medium - r 

 those of the mononuclears in an acid medium. Exudates pro- 



1 Zeit. physiol. Chemie, 1899 (27), 380. 



2 See Halliburton, Ergebnisse der Physiol., 1904 (4), 24. 



3 Ann. d. 1' Tnst. Pasteur, 1903 (17), 187. 



4 Hofmeister's Beitr., 1901 (1), 136. 

 5 Kossel, Zeit f. klin. Med., 1888 (13), 149. 

 6 Compt. Kend. Soc. Biol., 1899 (51), 568. 



7 See Mal/s Jahresbericht, 1902 (32), 568. 



8 Munch, med. Woch., 1902 (49), 1169. 



9 Cent. f. inn. Med., 1902 (23), 1161. 

 10 Wien. klin. Woch., 1905 (18), 376. 



11 Jour, of Exper. Med., 1905 (7), 316 and 759 ; 1906 (8), 410. 



