A Study of the B. coli Grouf. 
343 
mentary action by tliemselves ; this effect appeared to depend mainly on two 
factors — (1) the particular specimen of complement, and (2) the presence in 
the emulsion of fragments of agar, which, after heating of the emulsion, 
render it extremely viscous. It was generally found better to employ 
complement- serum eighteen to twenty-four hours after its withdrawal as 
fresh complement tends to be more deviable by anti-complementary agents.* 
Table XX. — Lysis of 0'5 c.c. 5 ijer cent. Ox Blood -f 5 Doses Immune Body. 
Antiserum 
to Strain 1, 
A 4 (jB. 
Griinthal). 
0 025 c.c. 
0-01 „ 
0-005 „ 
0-001 „ 
0 0005 „ 
0-0001 „ 
0 025 „ 
0-01 
0-05 
0-001 „ 
0-025 „ 
0-01 
0-005 „ 
0-001 „ 
0025 „ 
0-01 „ 
0005 „ 
0-001 „ 
Doses of complement. 
Complement 
deviated by 
emnlsion 
alone. 
0-4 C.C, 
Strain ■< 
1, A4 
0-4 C.C. 
- Strain 
2, A4 
0-4 c.c. 
- Strain 
1, A3 
0-4 c.c. 
- Strain 
1, Al 
5 D. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Dist. 
0 ! 0 
j Dist. j Mkd. 
I Mkd. 1 Al. com. 
Al. com. i Com. 
0 
Dist. 
Dist. 
Mkd. 
0 
0 
Trace 
0 
Dist. 
Mkd. 
Just c. 
0 
Dist. 
trace 
Dist. 
trace 
Mkd. 
10 D. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Al. com. 
Com. 
0 
Al. com, 
Com 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Com. 
0 
Com. 
0 0 
Mkd. Com. 
Com. — 
0 
V. mkd. 
Al. com 
Com. 
0 
Com. 
20 D, 
0 
0 
0 
Com. 
2 D. 
Trace 
Just c. 
Just c Com. 
V. mkd. Com. 
Mkd. Al. c. 
0025 c.c. antiserum alone deviated 2 D. of complement. 
0-0 L „ „ „ no complement. 
In this and in subsequent tables C. or Com. = complete lysis. Al. c. or Al. Com. 
= almost complete lysis. V. mk. or V. mkd. = very marked lysis. Mk. or Mkd. 
= marked lysis. Dt. or Dist. = distinct lysis. Tr. or Trace = trace of lysis. 
F. Trace = faint trace. 0 = no lysis. 
Apart from this, individual animals yield complements which may display 
varying degrees of deviability ; some are extremely deviable, while others are 
little affected by the usual inhibitory agents, and it is thus impossible to 
predicate how a certain specimen of complement-serum will behave. As 
regards the other complicating factor, it was found essential before heating to 
centrifugalise the emulsions for one or two minutes. This deposited any 
agar fragments and the supernatant emulsion was then pipetted off. 
* This is well known as res^ards the Wassermann reaction. 
