No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Coincident with the rapid increase of knowledge of biological chemistry chemical explanations are being sought for many of the phenomena of immunity. In order to study the effect of a fatsolvent drug on some of these phenomena the following investigation has been carried out. Ether was used because it provided an opportunity not only for observations in test-tubes but also for a study of the conditions in the human body by virtue of its general use as an anesthetic. Moreover, the idea presented itself that the action of the ether upon the various elements of the blood and other tissues might be intimately related to the occurrence of various post-operative lung complications, a study of which was suggested to the writer by Professor Arthur Dean Bevan. The phenomena investigated have been bacteriolysis, agglutination, and phagocytosis. The clinical cases were chosen from the surgical services of the Presbyterian Hospital. Squibb's anesthetic ether has been used. EFFECT ON BACTERIOLYSIS.No appreciable effect of the ether on the phenomenon of bacteriolysis was revealed, as shown in the following tables. Experiments were conducted by adding ether directly to normal and immune serum and by subjecting both normal and immune serum to its action in vivo by inhalation. The technic employed was the usual one of counting the number of colonies on agar plates after incubating the mixtures of serum and bacteria for variable periods. The dilutions in the control tubes were made with 0.85 NaCI solution and in the others with salt solution containing ether. Sterile corks were used in the tubes instead of cotton plugs in order •

No abstract