30
against 25 per cent. by the modification. It is thus seen in all stages of the disease the original
method is a surer test giving the reaction in 15 to 42 per cent. of cases over and above the
positive findings of the Levaditi's modification.
Saline extract of dried liver powder which did not show spirochætes was tested against
syphilitic sera, adopting exactly the same technique, but it was found to be quite free from the
antigen or antigenlike body.
About ten bloods from acute malarial fever cases in which parasites were found, were col-
lected and tested It was found only three out of the ten gave positive reaction. It was not
possible to collect all the bloods during febrile attack. From the history of the cases it appears
that the bloods taken during the height of fever contains a little of the antigen-equivalent
body.
In typhoid fever negative reaction has been obtained. Specimens of blood were taken
from twenty-two advanced lepers. In twelve of them, a positive reaction is obtained. A larger
percentage of leprosy bloods than those of other ailments seem to give positive reaction with
the test.
Effect of Salvarsan on Wassermann reaction.— A table is herewith appended giving the
details of salvarsan administration and the blood examinations. In the early stage of the
disease the Wassermann reaction generally fails ; but salvarsan seems to have better effect when
administered at that stage. Hence in most of the cases salvarsan is administered before the
blood is sent for examination From the table it will be found that in thirteen cases blood was
examined before the administration of salvarsan with a positive result, reaction being strong
in the majority of the cases. Of these six were again subjected to blood examination after
some intervals with the result that, in all of them, reaction became negative. In five cases the
test was not repeated enough number of times to obtain a negative reaction, but a diminution in
the strength of the reaction was noticed in their subsequent examinations. In the remaining
two cases the reaction reappeared after becoming negative in the interval.
The total number of cases in which a record was kept showing the effect of salvarsan on the
Wassermann reaction is 87. Of these, 54 cases or 62 per cent. gave a negative reaction after
the administration of salvarsan. Thirty-three cases or 38 per cent. of cases persisted in
giving a positive reaction. Of these, only six cases or 6.8 per cent. of cases showed a reaction
which simulated a relapse. In the rest blood examination was not continued on to the time when
it is expected to become negative.
The Wassermann reaction tends to become negative in a large number of cases after the
expiry of three months from the first salvarsan injection. It remains positive in a large number
of cases up to the end of two months from the first salvarsan injection.
The number of injections given in these cases extended to three and in exceptional cases
to seven, the average being two. Relapse of the reaction occurred in cases where three and two
injections were given. It seems therefore that want of sufficient amount of salvarsan in the
system is not the sole cause of the relapse. Some other factors not known seem to predispose
the relapse.