The Fractional Precipitation of the Globulin and Albumin of Normal Horse’s Serum and Diphtheria Antitoxic Serum, and the Antitoxic Strength of the Precipitates.

The research article investigates the behavior of globulins and albumins, such as their precipitation and reaction to certain reagents in normal horse serum and diphtheria antitoxic serum. Moreover, the study interrogates the relationship between globulin and the diphtheric antitoxic power, suggesting “diphtheria antitoxin” might actually be a form of globulin.

Globulins’ Reactions and Antitoxic Power

• The research found that the globulins in both normal horse serum and diphtheria antitoxic serum react similarly to reagents and exhibit the same precipitation patterns when treated with magnesium sulphate.
• Notably, all the diphtheric antitoxic power of both normal and immunized serum is always contained in the globulin and its fractional precipitates.

Observations during Fractional Precipitation

• During the fractional precipitation of serum globulin from both diphtheria-toxin-immunized horses and non-immunized horses, some amount of globulin, along with some antitoxic power of the immunized serum, is lost.

Potential Interpretation about the Nature of Diphtheria Antitoxin

• Bearing in mind these reactions and the fact that several researchers (including the authors of this study) have found diphtheric antitoxic power in normal horse’s serum, there seems to be a strong suggestion that “diphtheria antitoxin” is a form of globulin.

Formation of Globulin and Albumin Salts

• The reactions that occur when globulin, previously separated by magnesium sulphate, interacts with sodium chloride suggest the formation of globulin salts.
• Additionally, the circumstance that serum albumin yields fractional precipitates at certain temperatures while in a magnesium sulphate solution raises the possibility that albumin may precipitate as albumin salts.