Antigenic Patterns in Human Sera: Race-Specific Antigens *

The information available relating to the several phases of the problem of specificity in serological reactions has been thoroughly canvassed by Landsteiner,3 who has prepared an admirable critical statement of the results accumulated from the days of Uhlenhuth and of Nuttall down to the year 1936. From his text it is evident that, by various technics, it is readily possible to distinguish serologically between antigenic substances that are, indeed, very closely related. Species differences can be detected with relative ease, and by appropriate methods it can be shown that there are antigenic differences among individuals composing a single species. But the results of attempts to develop a technic competent to differentiate races have not been generally successful, if we except those racial peculiarities based on the blood group antigens which have significance only when subjected to a statistical treatment. Wiener,4 also, reaches a similar conclusion as to the general failure to disclose race-specific antigens. In fact, he states, "Attempts have also been made to produce sera which would serve to differentiate the bloods of different races of the human species. Thus far all such attempts have been unsuccessful. If such a serological differentiation of human races could be made, it would be of great value to anthropology and to forensic medicine." It thus seems useless to cite the many authors who have, prior to 1935 and 1936, worked in this field, with results occasionally suggestive, but more often wholly negative, and in all cases devoid of practical value. Very recently, Fischer and Raquet2 have reported on a possible use of the precipitin technic, utilizing the prin-