THE PRODUCTION OF SKIN NECROSIS BY CERTAIN AUTOLYSATES OF PNEUMOCOCCUS (TYPES I AND II)

Abstract

Certain pneumococcus autolysates produce necrosis when injected into the skin of guinea pigs. The necrosis-producing principle can be filtered through a Berkefeld N filter, is extremelv thermolabile, and is very sensitive to oxidation. The necrotizing poison can be separated from pneumococcus hemotoxin by adsorption with red cells. This removes the hemotoxin and leaves the necrosis-producing principle unaffected. The necrotizing substances obtained from pneumococ-cus types I and II are neutralized by antiserum pre-pared with pneumococcus I.