Action of Sodium Glycocholate. 



97 



precipitates colloid gold, acting powerfully in this respect. Histidine acts in 

 a similar way, but less powerfully. The precipitating action of a 1 in 1000 

 solution of histamine is very marked, 01 c.c. precipitating 1 c.c. of the gold 

 sol used in about 10 seconds. 



It is probable, therefore, that histamine acts as a disturber of all colloids, 

 and therefore of sodium glycocholate. We have seen that the hemolytic 

 action of this substance when in " combination " with serum albumin or 

 histamine is not to be accounted for by simple solubility of the envelope of 

 the erythrocyte in the bile salt : it is possible that surface tension produces 

 the effect, in which case the interaction of a colloid like the glycocholate, 

 and a precipitator of colloids such as histamine, would be of great interest. 

 The consideration that the haemolysis may be due to changes in the physical 

 state of the solution, connected with occurrences known to colloid chemistry, 

 suggests that the acidity or alkalinity of the hsemolysing solution will be of 

 great importance : the phenomena perhaps being analogous to those of 

 adsorbtion (6). 



It will therefore be necessary to investigate (1) the action of serum 

 albumin, and of histamine, on a blood suspension subjected to the hemolytic 

 action of various amounts of sodium glycocholate ; and (2) the effect of 

 acidity or alkalinity on this action. 



The following Tables contain such an investigation. The suspension used 

 is an inactive one. The various concentrations of glycocholate are similar 

 to those previously used (Table IV). The quantity of serum albumin added 

 to each tube, in the columns relating to its action, is 0*4 c.c. of a 1 per cent, 

 solution in saline. The quantity of histamine added to each tube, in the 

 columns relating to its action, is 0'4 c.c. of a 1 in 5000 solution in saline. 



"Acid histamine," or "acid serum albumin/' is made by adding to 10 c.c. 

 of the histamine solution, 1 in 5000, or, to 10 c.c. of the 1 per cent, albumin 

 solution, O'l c.c. of decinormal HCL " Alkaline histamine," or alkaline serum 

 albumin, is prepared by adding to 10 c.c. of either substance in the con- 

 centrations mentioned above, 0*1 c.c. of 1 per cent. Xa 2 C0.3. 



The substances were mixed in the order referred to as method 1, i.e., the 

 glycocholate first, then the blood suspension, of which - 2 c.c. is used, and 

 then, after 5 seconds, the serum albumin or histamine. 



