The relation of interfacial tension to cytolysis of sea-urchin eggs by soaps

Abstract

LAI~SON and his eoworkers 1 have shown that certain soaps have the power te detoxify bacterial toxins without destroying their antigenic properties. This principle has been utilized in the preparation of diphthœ and searlet 8 toxin-soap mixtures for immunization against these diseases. Soaps of the type o 9 sodium ricinoleate are particnlarly effective in this respect but soaps of the type of sodium oleate and sodium linoleate de net detoxify without destroying the antigenie p 9 LA~S0N has furthennore demonstrated that baeteria may be divided into two main groups with respect te their behavior toward surface tension depressants: one g 9 represented by the colon-typhoid organisms, grows well in media of low surface tension; while the other group, represented by pneumococci, streptoeocei and tuberele baeilli, is extremely sensitive te slight depression of surface tension. In fact, members of the latter group are rendered non-pathogenie by exposure for short periods of time te dilute solutions of soaps of the type of sodium 9 It has been shown by PAGE and AI~LEN ~ that, in the mammalian body, the soaps of rieinoleic acid, partieularly those of mono, di and