Butyric Reaction for Syphilis. 



51 



The cause of this resistance has been made the subject of 

 further study. After testing the saponin and eel serum on a 

 variety of red cells, the supernatant fluid was pipetted off, and 

 tested on normal red cells. It was found that the fluid which had 

 been in contact with resistant cells was least hemolytic, and vice 

 versa. It is conceivable that the resistant erythrocytes may either 

 absorb a disproportionate quantity of the hemolysin, or may con- 

 tain a neutralizing substance. 



It has been customary in human pathology to judge of the 

 resistance of red cells according to their vulnerability in anisotonic 

 solutions of salt. The above described experiments indicate that 

 specific resistance to a circulating toxin may be associated with 

 marked loss of resistance to anisotonic solutions of salts. The 

 red cells in advanced cases of cancer have been shown (Lang and 

 others) to possess a greatly increased degree of resistance to aniso- 

 tonic solutions. The demonstration of a hemolysin in the circu- 

 lating blood of cancerous cases, and of an increased resistance 

 thereto on the part of the red cells, has made it possible to prove 

 that the resistance is specific to this hemolysin, and only accidental 

 and occasional for the anisotonic solutions. 



22 (360) 



The butyric reaction for syphilis in man and in the monkey. 



By HIDEYO NOGUCHI. 



[^Froin the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.'\ 

 In a preliminary communication ^ I stated elsewhere that an 

 increase in certain protein constituents of the blood serum and of 

 the cerebro-spinal fluid of patients suffering from active or latent 

 syphilis or parasyphilitic afiections is a constant occurrence. I 

 wish to describe here briefly the technique of employing butyric 

 acid for the detection of this increase of protein. 



Cerebro-spinal fluid. — One or two parts ^ of spinal fluid 'are 

 mixed with five parts* of 10 per cent, butyric acid solution * and are 



^Noguchi : Jour, of Exp. Med., 1909, xi, p. 84. 

 'o. I or 0.2 c.c. are sufficient and convenient. 

 ' Must not contain blood. 

 *o.5 c.c. for the quantities above specified. 

 ^Best in 0.9 per cent, salt solution. 



