THE AGGLUTINATING PROPERTIES OF EXUDATES FROM PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER

Abstract

Exudates from patients in the acute phases cause agglutinated growth of certain strains of Streptococcus hemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus. They are not effective against other organisms. The property is partly destroyed at 56[degree] C, deteriorates slowly on standing in the ice-box, and in neither case is reactivation by complement possible. These properties are probably associated with the presence of a globulin similar to fibrinogen. Exudates from conditions other than rheumatic fever showed similar properties, but quantitatively not comparable.