The complement fixation test in syphilis, commonly known as the Wassermann test.

  • Great Britain. Ministry of Health.
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The complement fixation test in syphilis, commonly known as the Wassermann test. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the particles in suspension and prevent them from coalescing. (2) When these protective substances are diminished, there is a tendency for the particles to coalesce, and this aggregation of the particles may lead to the formation of a precipitate. ‘This is particularly the case with the larger particles termed globulins. (3) On the other hand, colloidal reactions may equally well bring about increased adsorption of protective sub- stances, thus promoting dissemination instead ot clumping. (4) The precipitate formed in an antigen-antibody reaction adsorbs complement, and this adsorption may take place when the precipitate is too fine to be visible to the naked eye. , (5) All the above reactions depend on the partieular chemical characters of the colloids and of the substances which are attracted to them, as well as on the chemico- physical conditions of the medium in which the reaction takes place. (6) The infinite variety of antigens is quite compatible with the infinite variety of colloidal conditions. The above are suggested as a few examples of colloidal principles which appear to be accepted in immunity work. They are only given as instances of the undoubted fact that these principles serve partly to explain the mechanism of immunity reactions. They are obviously not the whole of the explanation, because, as is evident from the work of the biochemists, the chemical interactions which are involved are equally important, though they are at present very imperfectly understood. Taking the importance of colloidal principles for granted, controversial issues must turn upon that unexplained part of the mechanism of immunity reactions which should account for specificity. Printed under the authority of His MAJESTY’S STATIONERY pes By Eyre and Spottiswoode, Ltd., Hast Harding Street, E.C. Printers to the King’ Ss most Excellent Majesty.