STUDIES IN ANAPHYLAXIS

The study of the phenomena of anaphylaxis has received considerable attention from investigators during the past year, and though sufficient time has not elapsed for the confirmation of all conclusions reached, much progress has been made in the knowledge of the subject. The later experiments and studies of Anderson and Frost¹ on the antibody concerned in the production of the phenomena of anaphylaxis lead them to conclude that this substance is quantitatively neutralized by the specific antigen; that it largely disappears from the serum of guinea-pigs during anaphylactic shock, but can be demonstrated in increased quantities in the serum of immune animals some time after recovery from such shock, and that it can be transferred to normal animals in such a way as to sensitize them against the antigen. To the antibody they give the name of “allergin,” which they hope will be adopted as the regular designation of this substance. They summarize their views on the whole subject of anaphylaxis as follows: