The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-07-06
oTR FRIENDs INSIST ON RESISTANCE

OUR FRIENDS INSIST ON RESISTANCE
Several years of study, observation ana re-
search served to convince the conductor OF TINS
column there is no such state as resistance
in the common sense OF the word immunity
is a well defined and in some instances measur-
able state and Of course 1t applles TO a specine
disease The state of resistance" as commonly
conceived does not apply to particular dis
ease but in q vague way to many or all dls-
cases.
E. J. S. contributes this to the symposium:
We the s. family, read your ar
ticles daily discuss them, and derive much
benefit from them. We desire to submit
the following with regard to the resist
ance-immunity discussion:
IMMUNITY: Safe from attack, pro-
tected against a disease by q natural or
ACQUIRED popularity. Immunity Is con-
dition of the body wherein it resists the
development of morbid processes
RESISTANCE: A temporarv power to
ward off or retard the development of a
morbid process.
If it were physically impossible for an
individual to acquire any particular dis
case, then we would say tnat inaivlduai
Is immune to that disease. We would Gas
sify the condition of being immune as 1OO
per cent. Then any degree of resistance
would be below 100 per cent, say from 80
per cent down to Zero
Then w. r. o. jumps in while we are tenn
porarily winded and remarks:
To my small mind it seems that IL +
person is only partly immune that In IT.
self implies there must be some sort OF re-
sistance. Either that is true or do not
know enough about the English language
to understand the meaning OF the Two
words.
While the referee is rather hurriedly count
ing over our PROSTATE and grooming remains
Mrs w. B. r, sends in her view: Re
Immunity means that person does not
get sick when he comes in contact with
the disease germs. Resistance, to be OF
any value must be absolute perfect, COM
n other words. 1t must be 1mnlun-
This argument commenced in July, 1880
In April 1882. H. +. A. succeeded in getting
the floor, and he goes on and on
You claim to conduct health column
but seem to waste great deal Of time and
space quibbling over words. You spent
fifteen years at least) trying to eliminate
the word cold" from the language. but
very few people have this cri parentheses
kree which you attempted to foist
now you have grudge against the word
resistance" good and honorable
word which means lot inherent
meaning of the word is strength or power
to withstand or stand against disease. This
strength or power may vary in degree in
different persons. Immunity means ex-
emption from disease and is absolute.
There is no such thing partial fmmuni-
ty, though of course immunity may be
Temporary
I'm sorry that coined the word. and after
all don't care what word you use, it's the
idea conveyed that am concerned about. Es-
pecially when health factor is concerned.
My only objection to tie term resistance"
is that it is vague. Nobody knows just what
anybody means when he uses the word. I'M
munity is word that has a definite meaning,
and when physician or health expert uses
the term he refers specifically to some disease.
not to many all diseases.
Goats are immune from tuberculosis Yet
now and then O goat has tuberculosis. Prac-
tically there is probably no such thing as
absolute or 100 per cent immunity against
any disease. So our friends are INDUCING in
idle and impractical speculation when they in
sist that partial immunity is of no valua or
doesn't occur.