112 GERMICIDAL PROPEBTIES OF BLOOD SEBUM. 



the biological stimulation of the foreign serum on the leucocytes of 

 the rabbit. It must be admitted, however, that it is possible that the 

 serum of the horse destroys the leucocytes of the rabbit and tha^ the 

 germicidal substances which pass into solution in the serum result 

 from the disintegration of the. corpuscles. From microscopical study 

 of the leucocytes thus subjected to the action of the serum of the horse, 

 TrommsdorflF' concludes that the leucocytes still retain their vitality 

 while the alexins pass from them into the serum. He finds that cor- 

 puscles treated in this way still possess amoeboid movement and when 

 compared with leucocytes known to be living show no signs of dis- 

 integration. It is therefore highly probable that the living leucocyte 

 secretes a germicidal substance. 



We will close our remarks upon the germicidal constituent of the 

 blood with the following statements : (1) The exact nature of the 

 germicidal constituents of the blood, or alexins, is not known. (2) 

 The alexins have their origin in the white blood corpuscles. (3) Dis- 

 integration of the white blood corpuscle liberates alexins. (4) It is 

 probably true that alexins are also secreted by living leucocytes. 



^Arehiv f. Hygiene, 40. 



