RT Journal
T1 THe germicidal action of blood.
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1889
FD August 31
VO XIII
IS 9
SP 310
OP 310
DO 10.1001/jama.1889.04440050022007
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1889.04440050022007
AB The explorations in science are carried on with the greatest vigor in different directions at different times. It is now over three years since Metschnikoff promulgated his phagocyte theory. During this time it has met with the greatest opposion. Nuttal and Buchner1 have added materially to our knowledge of the germicidal action of blood. Both defibrinated and freshly-drawn blood manifest a decidedly deadly action upon bacteria for more than four hours after it has been drawn from the body. This is most marked toward the pathogenic bacteria. For example, the number of anthrax bacilli in a given quantity of material was reduced in two hours from 4,800 to 56 by being mixed in a test-tube with defibrinated blood; and three hours later only three living bacilli remained. Almost as remarkable a germicidal influence was manifested toward other pathogenic bacteria. The destruction of putrefactive bacteria is, however, much less marked,