The Production of Skin Necrosis by Certain Autolysates of Pneumococcus (types I and Ii)

1. Certain pneumococcus autolysates produce necrosis when injected into the skin of guinea pigs. 2. The necrosis-producing principle can be filtered through a Berkefeld N filter, is extremely thermolabile, and is very sensitive to oxidation. 3. The necrotizing poison can be separated from the pneumococcus hemotoxin by adsorption with red cells. This removes the hemotoxin and leaves the necrosis-producing principle unaffected. 4. The necrotizing substances obtained from Pneumococcus Types I and II are neutralized by the antiserum prepared with Pneumococcus I.