314 



Mr. A. Fleming. On a Remarkable 



In connection with the lysozyme -content of the blood, it is to be noted 

 that, in addition to its being present in the leucocytes, in the plasma, and in 

 the serum, it is also present in rather large amount in the fibrin of the blood 

 clot. It is conceivable that this is a protective mechanism for open wounds, 

 which rapidly become covered with a layer of fibrin and leucocytes, both of 

 which are rich in lysozyme. 



The lysozyme-conteut of tears, sputum, nasal mucus, saliva, and blood 

 serum of the same individval were tested. The specimens were all collected 

 at the same time and were tested about 4 hours afterwards. The titrations 

 were carried out by making serial dilutions of the various fluids and adding 

 to these dilutions a measured quantity of a thick suspension of M. lysodeikticus, 

 after which the tubes were incubated at 45° C, and readings were made at 

 intervals of 15, 30, and 60 minutes. The results are set out in Table II : — 



Table II. — The Lysozyme-Content of various Fluids taken from the same 

 Individual at the same Time. 



Material examined. 



Time of 

 incuba- 

 tion at 

 45° C. 







Dilution of fluid, 1 



in : — 









ruins. 





10 



30 



90 | 



270 



810 



2430 



Blood serum 



15 





+ 



+ 



± 

















30 





+ 



+ 



+ 



± 



trace 









60 





+ 



+ 



+ 



+ 



± 













100 



300 



900 



2,700 









15 





+ 



















30 





+ 



+ 



± 













60 





+ 



+ 



± 















500 



1,500 



4,500 



13,500 ! 



40,500 



121,500 







15 



+ 



+ 



+ 



± 



± 











30 



+ 



+ 



+ 



+ 



± 











GO 



+ 





+ 



+ 



± 



o 





Sputum 



15 



+ 



+ 



+ 



± 













30 



+ 



+ 



+ . 





± 











60 



+ 



+ 



+ 





± 











15 



+ 



+ 



+ 



+ 















30 



+ 



+ 



+ 



+ 



± 











60 



+ 



+ 



+ 





+ 







+ signifies complete clearing of the fluid. 

 ± ,, partial ,, „ 



„ no 



It will be seen from the above Table that tears, sputum, and nasal mucus 

 are very rich in lysozyme to the M. lysodeikticus, while saliva and blood serum 

 are relatively weak. Fluids from a number of different individuals have 



