New-York tribune., 1916-07-17
Ellie Metchnikof.

Lille MetChnlkOff.
It is perhaps only natural chat the obitu-
artists should speak of Pasteur's illustrious
successor as if the discovery of an ineffect-
ual cure for old age established his princi-
pal title to fame. In his latter years Metch-
nikoff gave much thought to the phenomena
of Senle decay; he discussed the prolonga-
tion of human life in writings not too hard
for the general reader: he suggested meth
ods for postponng old age that were read
lily commercialized, and as the maintenance
of youth was of manifest emolument TO all
men his name came 10 be associated
vaguely with sour milk and longevity in
the minds of many who knew nothing at
all about his speculations in other fields.
Yet his experiments with bacteria de-
signed to check what he believed to be
undermining putrefactive processes in the
digestive tract were but incidental to his
physiological and pathological investiga-
tions; nor was he ever personally inter
ested in the commercial uses of his dis
coveries. His researches in immunity had
before the Tactic acid treatment ever came
TO be discussed in Sunday newspapers, and
it would be difficult to name any man of
his generation whose work was more stim-
ulating to other investigators or more far
reaching in Importance. Ehrlich, Pfeiffer,
Wright. all, indeed, who have been con-
cerned in theoretical or practical inquiries
in similar fields, are profoundly indebted
to him. Moreover, his theory of phagocy-
tosis has stood the test of time; none OF
the notifications introduced by later IN
vestipators has seriously shaken his con-
ception of the phagocyte. The opsonic hy-
pothesis of Wright, together with Ehr-
lichs ingenious speculations and the. spec
ulations of countless other inquirers, may
be regarded as outgrowths or as revisions
of the theory Of phagocytosis, hut none OF
them disposes Of the original conception so
plainly expounded in Metchnikoff's cele-
brated address at Odessa thirty-three
years ago.
Metchnikoff was the first to recognize
the existence of an active bodily defence
against invading microbes. His discovery
of the protective function of the amebold
leucocytes was the very foundation OF all
subsequent researches in immunity. Metch-
nikoff was a zoologist, and 1t was his
studies in low forms of animal life that
led him to the conclusions that have so
prodigiously influenced all who have since
dealt with the problems of natural or ac-
ouired immunity. His idea was so clear
that it has never been radically altered.
II is known now that without the CO.
operation of certain body fluids the phago-
cyte is relatively impotent, but though 1t
NAV be necessary TO recognize Wrlghts
idea of opsonns in the plasma and useful
to elaborate the conception of the process
by the adoption of Ehrlich's hypothesis
and so forth. yet Metchnikoff's theory still
holds it's own as essentially uncontroverted.
In later life he became deeply inter
ested in what he conceived to be the de-
structive work of certain poisonous sub
stances-indols and phenols-in the colon
of the human animal. He seemed inclined
al one time to regard the large intestine as
an inconvenient encumbrance and tried to
find some way to combat the havoc worked
by the poisons normally present In 1t. lie
met with violent opposition from lnvest-
gators who had Experimental with the
toxic agents and found them seemingly
innocent. and he was so enthusiastically
supported by others that for time 1t
seemed as if the Tactic treatment would be
established as a new elixir of life or as If
the surgical elimination of the offending
intestine would come in time to be as pop
ular at least as vaccination. But all these
little quarrels have no serious bearing on
the main work Of Metchnikoff, who will
always be remembered as one of the most
imaginative, profound and influential in
vestgators of our age.