The Effect of Eosin and Erythrosin upon the Hæmolytic Power of Saponin

The chemical action of photodynamic substances is very wide. Not only do they cause alteration of the labile molecules of ferments and toxins, bu t they are definite and even intense protoplasmic poisons. Their action is, however, not limited to the complex structures and molecules of these bodies, bu t is capable of being exerted upon much simpler and, chemically speaking, more definite substances. The more recent investigations of v. Tappeiner, 1 Jodlbauer, Straub, ~ Edlefsen, 3 and Sacharoff and Sachs, 4 all tend to show tha t fluorescent photodynamic chemicals act by promoting oxidation of the cells, toxins, etc. A wide variety of inorganic and organic well-defined chemical substances was proven to undergo oxidation in the presence of the photodynamic reagents. There were certain exceptions as, for example, dextrose and formaldehyde, which remained unaltered. In view of these facts, and as a complement to my studies on snake venom, I tested the action of eosin and erythrosin upon the ha~molytic property of saponin. The following tables show tha t eosin and especially erythrosin act with considerable intensity upon saponin. The saponin was Merck's, the dyes "eosin rein" and "erythro-