Scientific Proceedings (120). 



millimeters after removal of a section of the spinal cord eight 

 centimeters long below the level of the first transection. Similar 

 results were obtained in other animals. A greater fall of blood 

 pressure followed removal of the lumbar and sacral portions of 

 the spinal cord, below the level of outflow of thoracic sympathetic 

 fibers. Any interference with the function of the upper portion 

 of the thoracic cord or the medulla oblongata was always followed 

 by an extreme depression of blood pressure, whatever the condition 

 of the spinal cord. The results indicate the functional dependence 

 of the peripheral ganglia of the sympathetic system upon the 

 central system. 



83 (1830) 



A simple quantitative precipitation reaction for syphilis. 



By R. L. KAHN. 



[From Bureau of Laboratories, Michigan Department 

 of Health, Lansing, Mich.] 



The proposed method possesses the following three advantages 

 over the Meinicke, 1 Sachs and Georgi, 2 and Dreyer and Ward 3 

 (^igma) precipitation reactions. 



1. The diluted antigen possesses considerable stability, render- 

 ing it unnecessary to dilute fresh antigen before using in the tests. 



2. The strongly positive serums show, in most cases, sponta- 

 neous precipitation and the test as a whole is completed after 3 

 hours incubation in the water bath. 



3. The precipitates can be easily distinguished with the naked 

 eye. 



The Method. — The antigen is prepared according to Neumann 

 and Gager. 4 After extracting the dried heart muscle with ether 

 and drying as indicated by these authois, 5 c.c. of absolute alcohol 

 is added to each gram of material. 



The alcoholic extraction is canied on for about 10 days in the 

 ice box. It is then filtered and fresh alcohol added to the extent 



1 Berl. klin. Wchnschr., 1918, iv, 83; Muench. med. Wchnschr.. 1918. Ixv. 1279. 

 and ibid., 1919. xxxiii, 932. 



2 Med. Klinik, 1918, xxxiii. 805. 



1 Lancet, 1921, xix. 956, Old Series C.C. 

 4 J. Immun.. 1917. ii, 573. 



