The equations applicable to simple hœmolytic reactions

Abstract

These equations explain, from first principles, the time-dilution curves, the percentage hemolysis curves, the relation of different hemolytic systems, and the curious results obtained by varying the number of cells to be hemo-lyzed. The reaction between lysin and the cell component is satisfactorily described by an expression like that applicable to chemical reactions of the 1st order, but must contain a term which relates to the surface upon which the lysin acts. This agreement with Ar-rhenius and his pupils that the fundamental reaction is one of the 1st order does not alter the author''s former criticisms of the findings of these writers; they seem to have reached a correct conclusion by cancelling one error with another. The author''s results do not uphold the idea that the simple hemolysins considered bring about their effect by a solvent action of the red cell membrane, but show that this effect is due to a chemical reaction, accompanied by subsidiary reactions in which the liberated cell contents play a part.