Thorn in the Starfish: The Immune System and How It Works
Desowitz, a professor at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine and the author of New Guinea Tapeworms and Jewish Grandmothers , here offers a highly readable discussion of the state of the art of immunology, with an eye to the future. He gives some history of immunologic theory: e.g., Jenner and smallpox vaccine, and Metchnikoff, who determined that phagocytes "eat bacteria" as a thorn is absorbed by a starfish. He then discusses the dietary effects of selenium, zinc, and vitamins A and C on immunity; effects of smoking on the immune system; AIDs; and psychoimmunology. The scientific terminology is abundant but well explained in the text. Recommended for general readers. (Index not seen.) Jean E. Crampon, Hancock Marine Biology & Oceanography Lib., Univ. of Southern California, Los AngelesCopyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.