Lysiiis. 25 



immunity to toxines acquired after infectious disease. The tox- 

 ines are allied to the albumens* and enter the blood in a state of 

 solution ; thus dissolved, they here enter into combination and are 

 therefore inert before they gain access to the tissues, as the nerv- 

 ous tissues — the cells (bacteria) which give origin to the toxines 

 being removed from the economy by phagocytosis (as tetanus or 

 diphtheria bacilli). 



Another class of receptors [III order of Ehrlich] has the 

 power of combining with foreign cellular elements and at 

 the same time drawing into the combination the ferment-like 

 alexines which naturally have pre-existed in the blood ; these 

 thus must possess two haptophore groups (a cytophile and a 

 complementophile group), and for this reason are known as 

 amboceptors. For this element which is the medium (amboceptor) 

 of the chemical union (anchoring together) the following terms 

 are also employed: dcsiiwji (se'w := I bind), immune body, 

 intermediary body, copula, immunisin, fi.vateur, sensitising body. 

 The alexine is also known as the complement, addiment and 

 cytosc. \\'hen by the combined action of these two elements the 

 destruction and solution of foreign cellular elements (the toxine- 

 producing animal and vegetable microorganisms themselves) are 

 accomplished, the compound antibody [amboceptor and comple- 

 ment] is spoken of as a cytolysin (E. S. London). The 

 presence of the two elements allied to each other is shown by 

 experiment. If one will heat a serum containing cytolysins to 

 56° C. the complemental element will be destroyed, and the 

 serum will be fovmd to have lost its cytohtic power, is inert. If, 

 however, to this serum there be added another, ordinary serum, 

 containing only complement and inert by itself, the cytolytic 

 power is restored to the first, and it is said to have been 

 reactivated. So, too, the desmon or amboceptor in the c}i;olysin 

 may be removed by adding to serum cells for which it has 

 affinity [and by centrifugation these may be thrown down : while 

 the serum continues to contain the complement] . There are 

 a number of cytolysins of different kinds, each exerting its 

 influence as a rule upon only one certain kind of cell [this 

 depending upon the peculiar affinity of the amboceptor in the 

 cvtolvsin combination] : thus we recognize amongf manv 

 those which act upon red blood cells (hccmolysins) , upon sperma- 



♦Poisons of other types, alkaloids, glucosldes. saponines, which do not act by 

 forming chemical combination do not cause the formation of antitoxines In the 

 organism. (Ehrlich, H. Sachs.) 



