The Clotting of Plasma through Staphylococci and their Products

Abstract

1. Whole cultures, suspensions in distilled water, and cell-free filtrates of Staphylococci clot citrated and other plasmas. 2. Whole cultures and filtrates are comparatively thermostable, while suspensions are less so. Partially purified filtrates are likewise less stable than the crude filtrates. 3. The clotting principle is precipitable by alcohol, acetic acid, and ammonium sulphate. 4. The clotting principle is dialysable through cellophane after alcoholic precipitation but not before. 5. The clotting principle is distinct from haemolysin. 6. Sera can be obtained which have a neutralising action on the clotting principle. 7. Pure fibrinogen can be clotted by a staphylococcal filtrate. 8. The clotting principle is distinct from the toxin responsible for local inflammation and fixation. 9. The clot formed by the addition of “coagulase” to plasma is composed of true fibrin.