i8 



Scientific Proceedings (117). 



expression would warrant. It will in general, for instance, closely 

 state the amount of hemolysis in a system where complement is 

 the only independent variable, x, y, is the proportion of hemolysis 

 read colorimetrically, and n and k are constants. It is often more 

 convenient to use it in the form of x n = k[y/(i — y)]. If this 

 expression is put into logarithmic form, 



y 



n log x = log k + log » 



I - y 



the expression is linear when expressed graphically, that is, if 

 plotted on logarithmic paper, the data will fall more or less ac- 

 curately on a straight line whose slope numerically expressed 

 will equal », and whose intercept on the axis y will be the reciprocal 

 of k. Moreover, if two complements are compared, the intercept 

 of their graphs on the axis of x will be reciprocals of their con- 

 centration referred to any unit in which we may choose to ex- 

 press such concentrations. 



In theory and this is to a large extent borne out in practice, 

 this intercept on the axis of x is independent of the value of n. 



n varies in the case of blood cells with the individual from which 

 the blood is drawn, with the age of the blood cells, and with the 

 treatment which they have experienced. It is low when the cells 

 are suspended in Ringer's solution, high when they are suspended 

 in salt solution, is increased with the age of cells and in general 

 with harmful conditions, such as the presence of antiseptics in 

 small concentration and the like. It decreases as the concentra- 

 tion of cells is increased. It varies under the conditions and 



6 y t.G z a 4 3 



o.ooo o.«c «we^,A3o OJO c.io 0.0.0 



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up 



/ 



A 3 



0r,r c '° <u«^ 



I- k.. i. Nomogram for solution of the equation y = x n = x* + k, for n. 



