4 8 



Scientific Proceedings (96). 



picture consonant with the findings in acute anaphylaxis in the 

 rabbit — the usual picture of a chronic interference with the cir- 

 culation; namely, anasarca and greatly dilated right heart. 



5. In the guinea-pig dying in acute anaphylaxis, the pulmonary 

 circulation offers no increased resistance to the passage of fluid 

 through it. 



29 (1404) 



The effect of oxidation on Wassermann antigen. 



By Reuben Ottenberg and Arthur Knudson. 



[From the Department of Bacteriology, and of Biological Chemistry, 

 Columbia University, New York.] 



In 1914 the authors had occasion to prepare some lecithin by 

 MacLean's method (Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology, 18, 

 p. 490). The method (an elaborate one) consists essentially of 

 numerous precipitations out of ether and water, by means of 

 acetone, of the alcoholic extracts of dried beef heart. The purified 

 precipitate is finally dried in vacuo over sulphuric acid. Through- 

 out the work air is excluded so far as possible. 



In the present work from 6}4 kilos of lean pressed beef heart, 

 about 8 grams of purified lecithin were obtained. The lecithin 

 had a yellowish white waxy appearance and upon analysis was 

 found to contain 4.06 per cent, phosphorus and 1.93 per cent, 

 nitrogen. The nitrogen and phosphorus are in the ratio of one 

 to one. It had an iodine number of seventy. Throughout the 

 procedure every precaution was taken to exclude air by replace- 

 ment with C0 2 so as to prevent oxidation as far as possible. 

 Some of the lecithin was put in tubes in vacuo, and some in carbon 

 dioxide gas. 



The lecithin separated in this way is not true lecithin, but a 

 mixture of true lecithin and kephalin. It possesses however all 

 the properties of the substance generally alluded to as lecithin. 



The samples of lecithin put up in tubes have been tested in 

 the Wassermann reaction at various times during the last four 

 years. It has been found that the antigenic property of those 

 tubes which remained perfectly sealed was preserved and remained 



