Se 
493 
The Chenncal Dynamics of Serum Reactions. 
By Captain A. G. McKenpricx, LM.S., Assistant Director, The Pasteur 
Institute of Southern India, Coonoor. 
(Communicated by Sir James Dewar, F.R.S. Received November 30, 1910,— 
Read March 30, 1911.) 
A multitude of phenomena of widely varying character is seen in 
experimenting with blood sera: Agglutination, bacteriolysis, heemolysis, 
precipitin, opsonin, and stimulin reactions, and others occur. 
In the serum two elements are distinctly recognisable: (1) A so-called 
amboceptor, which is characterised by its being able to withstand compara- 
tively high temperatures, and by the fact that it can act alone. 
(2) A so-called complement, which is put out of action by comparatively 
low temperatures, and which cannot act unless the amboceptor has previously 
acted. 
It is the object of this paper to show that the above reactions are subject 
to the law of mass action, and that they can be expressed by the whole or 
part of the equation 
<=4(2 —:)—(Y—2) 1 
Te en NG “) © 
according as both elements are present, or only amboceptor is present. 
y = per cent. of amboceptor, 
i 5 complement, 
c¢ = a constant of dilution, 
2 =a complex quantity, denoting effect, as observed in any of the 
above reactions, 
¢ = time. 
This formula merely states that amboceptoral action is bimolecular, and 
that complement action is monomolecular, under the influence of a catalytic 
effect of the amboceptor. 
Writing the equation thus: 
\ 
d \ n 
ete at @) 
is the mathematical form of stating the characters of the two components (as 
given above) ,with the hypothesis that amboceptoral action is directly 
VOL. LXXXIIL—B. 20 
