38 



Scientific Proceedings (62). 



These results show that antigen persists in the human being 

 after the serum sickness has subsided. This fact is in harmony 

 with animal experiments. They show that anaphylactic antibody 

 is formed as a feature of serum sickness. 



The coexistence of these factors in guinea-pigs similarly 

 treated, I have demonstrated in previous experiments. Neither 

 factor had as yet been demonstrated in human serum sickness. 

 The facts indicate that the disease is due to the interaction of 

 these factors, in accordance with an hypothesis suggested by 

 Pirquet. 



22 (954) 



Cellular processes in the latent period. 



By Richard Weil. 



[From the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Cornell 

 Medical College.] 



Guinea-pigs were passively sensitized by the injection of the 

 serum of a rabbit highly immunized to horse serum. Before the 

 latent period had expired, i. e., during the first 12 hours, the 

 guinea-pig was killed, and the horns of the uteri were suspended 

 for graphic tracing. One horn was immediately tested by means 

 of horse serum. If it gave no response, the preparation was at 

 once thoroughly washed, and the experiment continued. Both 

 horns were kept in Locke's fluid for several hours. At the end of 

 this time, both were again tested against horse serum. Both 

 regularly responded with contractions, but that yielded by the 

 previously tested horn was much less vigorous than by the other. 

 The latter fact shows that the preliminary test by horse serum 

 had partially desensitized the antibodies. 



The following conclusions are drawn : 



1. The cells absorb antibody from the blood during the first 

 stage of the latent period. These antibodies can unite with the 

 antigen, and the cells can thus be desensitized, but that this 

 reaction produces no cellular contraction in the sensitized muscle 

 cells. 



2. The cells "activate" the absorbed antibody during the 



