Evaluation of the Phytopharmacologic Test of Pels and Macht

In an effort to evaluate the phytopharmacologic test which Macht and Pels 1 described as a diagnostic measure in cases of pemphigus, we undertook several experiments. (Macht 2 has been reporting on the test for the past ten years and found it of diagnostic value in cases of pernicious anemia.) The test is based on a comparison of the amount of growth of roots of Lupinus albus Hartwegii seedlings grown in a plant nutrient solution (Shive 3 ) to which 1 per cent of blood serum of a patient has been added with the amount of growth of similar seedlings in plant nutrient solution which contains 1 per cent of blood serum from normal subjects. The amount of growth retardation is taken to indicate the toxicity present in the patient's serum. METHOD The method used by Pels and Macht, as reported in 1931, is as follows: 1. Seeds of Lupinus