The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25

microbes were deliberately injected
into the system. he showed how in
lection caused by the same live bacilli
could be successfully combated, and
at the same time he noted to a nicety
the physiological effects upon himself
and his coliaborators. lie had pre-
viousiy proved that the white cor
puscles attacked the microbes. dead or
alive. with equal avidity provided they
were made palatable by means of suit
able opsonins. This may be bit
puzzling when IL is recalled that II Is
the living germ that produces the
toxin which causes the trouble and
wh!ch when drawn from the blood of
an infected animal is in its turn used
as an antitoXin IN fighting certain
diseases. But this apparent contra
dlction can be easily explained In the
light of Wrrht's discoveries.
Inasmuch as the leucocytcs will
absorb the dead or living microbe
when treated by the condiment OF a
suitable opsonin, it must ne clear that
the boiy's power of resistance Is due
TO an after effect following upon this
absorption. and such is indeed the
fact. The loss of the particular OPP
sonins in the blood which have been
taken up first by the microbes and
then imprisoned within the leucocytes
! induces the cells of ones body To
produce more of those opsonins-Just
as chewing gum stimulates the SAL
vary glands.
In truth, this simile is a fairly ac-
curate one. because gum chewing in
Z oh ,.t
amount of saliva, and the withdrawal
of opsonins in the way We have just
described likewise causes the body cells
TO give out an excess of opsonins-
| always Of the sort needed to fight the
special germ in question. II is this
excess which fortifies the system
against incoming microbes and pro-
duces immunity. Thus, the battle in
tated by dead bacilli builds up the
army or the defences against the truly
virulent living microbe.
II must be perfectly plain that the
withdrawal of opsonins from the cir
culation by means of the introduction
| OF dead microbes must, for the time
| being. lower the resistive power OF
| the system, and the charts made by
Wright show that there Is first low
tide and then an extraordinarily high
| tide in the matter of the opsonlc
curve of index. The high tide is ma
! lures own rush to supply the def
! cheney and to restore the body not
only TO its normal but to give II "a
supernormal power of defence, II Is
| necessary for the physician to watch
! carefully these periods OF ebb and flow,
! for they tell him when II is timely
/ ana safe to give succeeding inoCula-
! lions.
Now we are beginning to grasp the
| under wing theory upon which the
medical world works to-day In pro-
viding immunity against a number OF
diseases, such as typhoid, pneumonia,
bubonic plague, meningitis, sc. If
| this he possible, and We know 1t il,
| the next question naturally arises:
/ why is 1t that the microbe ever gets
further than the outer battlements of
/ the body? Why isn't ii promptly de-
stroycd offhand and never given an
| opportunity to obtain an injurious
! foothold?"
This, indeed. is commonly tho re
suit in healthy, normal bodies, because
/
already in the circulation to meet and
promptly to dispose OF these insidious
! intruders But, alas! everybody Is not
so fortunately constituted. and their
body cells may inherently lack energy
in some direction and therefore not be
able to give off In sufficient quantity
certain Of these necessary opsonins
! Pcrsons of thhs sort are, accord ngly
/ more or less prone to the attacks of
certain ds"ases-the degree of their
| hazard depending upon just how far
they fall in this particular below the
normal opsonic index.
This deficiency is IA matter OF per
sonal equation, and may be due to
constitutional shortcomings or TO
weakness consequent upon fever or
some kindred facilitating malady. In
deed. this impaired power Of resistance
may be induced through fatigue, and