n6 



NATURE 



[December 4, 1902 



Precisely ihe same can be done lor the tetanus lysin and anli- 

 lysin, and the natural conclusion is that these two changes 

 are of the same kind, a reaction taking place in each case 

 between two molecules and resulting in the formation of two 

 molecules of the products. It does not in any way follow that 

 the substances concerned are of the same chemical type, and in 

 fact other considerations render this very improbable. 



In the particular experiment quoted, the amount of antilysin 

 solution which was chemically equivalent to the lysin employed 

 was o"276 c.c. When this quantity of antilysin was added, 

 however, the hcemolytic power remained equal to 36 per cent, 

 of the original, whilst even after the addition of seven times the 

 equivalent, the power was still I '8 per cent, of the original. 

 These facts, nevertheless, do not indicate the presence of a 

 series of lysins of different hemolytic powers and affinities for 

 antilysin, any more than the precisely similar phenomena 

 observed with ammonia and boric acid indicate the presence of 

 a series of bases possessed of different hemolytic powers and 

 affinities for boric acid. It is therefore unnecessary to suppose, 

 as Ehrlich has done for diphtheria toxin, that proto-, deutero- 

 and trito-toxins as well as toxones are present. 



All the phenomena are explained by the presence of a single 

 lysin, the compound of which with its antilysin is partially 

 decomposed into its constituents by water. Recent experiments 

 of Dreyer and Madsen show that these conclusions may fairly 

 be extended to the constitution of diphtheria toxin. 



The deterioration of tetanus lysin is a subject of great interest 

 in connection with the theory of toxins, and its study has also 

 yielded interesting results, although it has not yet been pushed 

 very far. The examination of an altered lysin by the method 

 described above serves to indicate which of its constants— the 

 -equivalent or the coefficient of dissociation — has been altered. 

 To take a single example, the hemolytic power of a solution 

 of lysin was found to have diminished to one-sixth in about five 

 days. Examination showed that its equivalent had not altered, 

 but that its coefficient of dissociation had increased by 50 per 

 cent. As a result of this increase, the hemolytic power of this 

 lysin would be diminished to a less extent than that of the 

 original lysin by a given dose of antilysin. The effect of 

 deterioration in this case can therefore be explained by supposing 

 a slight change to have occurred in all the molecules of the lysin, 

 "perhaps a transformation into a metameric compound, less 

 toxic," possessing an increased coefficient of dissociation and an 

 undiminished combining power for antilysin. Ehrlich's explan- 

 ation, on the other hand, would be that five-sixths of the lysin 

 had been converted into a non-hsemolytic substance (toxoid) 

 which had a greater affinity lor the antilysin than lysin itself 

 and was therefore "neutralised" first. 



This explanation may be applicable in some cases, but, as will 

 be seen, it is not necessarily required by the facts. 



A further point of interest is that lysin and antilysin unite 

 slowly and at a rate which can be measured. The investigation 

 of this reaction has been carried out to a certain degree, and its 

 further examination will probably throw more light on the 

 nature of the change which occurs. 



If the results of the authors are accepted, a great simplification 

 of the present ideas as to the constitution of toxins will be 

 necessary. A point which is of fundamental importance and 

 appears to call for further examination is the mode of 

 action of the lysin molecule in hemolysis. In other words, does 

 haemolysis take place between the lysin-corpuscle and free lysin, 

 as is the case with caustic soda, or does the lysin molecule 

 which forms the combination bring about the haemolysis by 

 means of another group contained in its molecule? 



A. Harden. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



Oxford. — An important change has recently been made in 

 the regulations for Responsions. The change affects the 

 examination in the Elements of Geometry. Instead of Euclid's 

 Elements Books i. and ii., with Euclid's axioms and Euclid's 

 sequence of propositions, the subject will in future be defined 

 as the subject-matter of certain specified portions of Euclid's 

 Elements Books i., ii., iii., and the papers will contain ele- 

 mentary questions on this subject-matter and easy deductions 

 from the specified propositions. The regulations state that any 



NO. 1727, VOL. 67] 



method of proof will be accepted which shows clearness and 

 accuracy in geometrical reasoning, and that algebraical proofs 

 of certain propositions in Book ii. will be allowed. The change 

 is to come into force in the Michaelmas term of 1904. The 

 announcement made by the Board of Studies for Responsions, in 

 the University Gazette for November 25, reads as follows : — ' l In 

 the regulations as to the Elements of Geometry (Examination 

 Statutes, 1902, p. iS), the words ' Euclid's Elements, Books i., ii. 

 Euclid's axioms will be required, and no proof of any proposi- 

 tion will be admitted which assumes the proof of anything not 

 proved in preceding propositions of Euclid,' have been struck 

 out. and the following words substituted: — ' Elementary questions, 

 including propositions enunciated by Euclid and easy deductions 

 therefrom, will be set on the subject-matter contained in the 

 following portions of Euclid's Elements, viz. , Book i., the whole, 

 excluding propositions 7, 16, 17, 21 ; Book ii., the whole, ex- 

 cluding proposition 8 ; Book iii., the whole, excluding proposi- 

 tions 2, 4-10, 13, 23, 24, 26-29. Any method of proof will be 

 accepted which shows clearness and accuracy in geometrical 

 reasoning. So far as possible, candidates should aim at making 

 the proof of any proposition complete in itself. In the case of 

 propositions 1-7, 9, 10, of Book ii., algebraical proofs will be 

 allowed.' This change will come into force at the examin- 

 ation of Michaelmas term, 1904." 



Sir Oliver Lodge has been appointed the Romanes lecturer 

 for next year. 



On - Wednesday evening, December 10, a paper on " French 

 Rural Education, and its Lessons for England," will be read 

 by Mi. Cloudesley Brereton at the Society of Arts. 



The clerk of the Privy Council has sent an official notice 

 to the authorities at University College, Liverpool, fixing the 

 hearing of the petition in regard to the proposed Liverpool 

 University for Wednesday, December 17. 



The annual meeting of the Association of Technical Insti- 

 tutions will be held at the Goldsmiths' Hall, London, on Tues- 

 day, January 6, 1903. The president, Lord Avebury, will 

 occupy the chair, and an address will be given by the president- 

 elect, Sir John Wolfe Barry, K.C.B., F.R.S. 



Mr. J. S. Maidonald has been appointed to succeed Prof. 

 Myers-Ward in the chair of physiology at Sheffield University 

 College. Mr. Macdonald, who is at present assistant lecturer 

 in physiology at Liverpool University College, takes up his 

 new appointment in January next. Prof. Myers- Ward goes to 

 Charing Cross Hospital as lecturer in physiology. 



The British Medical Journal announces that the Board of 

 Trustees of Cornell University, New York, has arranged to 

 purchase sixteen additional acres of land, and to erect new 

 buildings, including the Hall of Physics, for which Mr. John D. 

 Rockefeller gave a quarter of a million dollars, and a Hall of 

 Arts and Humanities, upon which a like amount is to be ex- 

 pended. In connection with this University, it is of interest to 

 notice that professors of the University who reach the age of 

 seventy years will hereafter be retired with a pension. Their 

 salary will be continued for one year, and they will thereafter 

 receive 1500 dollars a year for four years, which time will 

 doubtless be extended. They will act as special lecturers with 

 such duties as may be assigned to them. 



We regret to see that Sir Michael Foster has written to the 

 chairman of his Parliamentary Committee to say he feels com- 

 pelled to resign his seat as member of Parliament for the 

 University of London. He hoped to be relieved of his duties 

 in the House of Commons at the beginning of the present term, 

 but now, at the request of his committee, has deferred h s 

 actual resignation until the close of the present session. 

 Among the names mentioned in connection with the vacancy 

 thus caused are those of Sir Henry Roscoe, for some time 

 vice-chancellor of the University, and Sir John Williams. 



Writing to the Times, Mr. A. C. Holzapfel points to the 

 striking difference between English and German fees for 

 scientific instruction. One of his sons studied chemistry at 

 Aachen, and the fees for lectures, laboratory work, breakages, 

 &c, were between 6/. and 7/. yearly. Another son attended 

 King's College, London, for a course of work similar to that 



