The Relation of the Meningococcidal Activity of the Blood to Resistance to Virulent Meningococci

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Abstract
In a previous communication (1) we have shown the greater bactericidal activity of whole blood for the meningococcus as compared with serum and briefly described a simple and convenient method for measuring the bactericidal activity of whole blood devised by Dr. Heist employing the many stemmed capillary pipet of Wright. Further experiences with this technic have demonstrated its simplicity; but a few drops of undefibrinated blood are required and the results are usually quite sharp and convincing. As is true with all bactericidal tests, however, the results observed with the blood of one person or lower animal tested on different days not infrequently yields slightly varying results, owing not only to probable fluctuations in the bactericidan content of the blood but more particularly to fluctuations in the numbers of viable meningococci in the culture employed; with careful attention to technic however, the latter error can be reduced to a minimum.

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