The Wassermann Test for Syphilis. 



7 



has not proved to be a differential stain at all since even the freshest 

 fibrin takes a bluish hue. The difference between the coarser 

 and finer fibrils appears to be one of intensity of stain. On the 

 other hand the original Mallory stain as well as the modification 

 made by Mallory himself in 1905 1 differentiates sharply between 

 fibrin and connective tissue. The coarse fibrils as well as the fine 

 fibrin strand taking a rich orange red in contrast to the deep blue 

 of the connective tissue fibrils. I have used still a third connective 

 tissue stain, the Bielschowsky silver method, which is regarded 

 as a more delicate stain even than Mallory's. This method gives 

 the same results as the others, that is, the fibrils react as fibrin 

 and not as fibrous tissue (fibrin, dirty brown; connective tissue 

 fibers, deep black). 



My results with chemical tests — digestion with weak acid and 

 pancreatin — agree with those of Baitsell. The coarse fibrils under 

 question are readily dissolved, indicating their fibrinous character. 



It has therefore been concluded that the only support for 

 Baitsell's transformation idea consists of results obtained with a 

 modified stain which does not differentiate fibrin and fibrous tissue. 

 Chemical tests and reactions with all three of the differential 

 connective tissue stains in general use show that no such trans- 

 formation takes place. 



5 (1 183) 



A comparative study of different methods of performing the 

 Wassermann test for syphilis. 



By J. Wheeler Smith, Jr., and W. J. MacNeal. 



[From the Laboratories of the New York Post-Graduate Medical 

 School and Hospital.] 



Wassermann tests were performed by three methods upon 

 496 identical specimens from 477 patients. In the first method a 

 cholesterin-reinforced antigen was employed and the first incuba- 

 tion was carried out at 37 0 C. In the second method a simple 

 alcoholic extract was used as antigen, with incubation also at 

 37° C. In the third method this latter antigen was again em- 

 ployed, but the first incubation was carried out in the refrigerator 

 for a period of four to twenty-four hours. 



1 Mallory, Jour. Med. Research, 1905, XIII, 113. 



