130 APPLICATION OF METHOD IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



specifically directed against particular substrates, 

 makes it possible for us to demonstrate their exis- 

 tence, and the knowledge, that ferments play an im- 

 portant part amongst the means of defence of the 

 animal organism against disharmonious substances, 

 indicates this much progress, that we are enabled 

 thereby to follow up, experimentally, phenomena 

 which we meet with under normal conditions in the 

 individual cells of the body. With the help of the 

 ferments the cell is continuously remodelling in a suit- 

 able manner the food, which the blood brings to it 

 still in harmony with the plasma, either by way of 

 completing a further decomposition, or of setting up a 

 synthesis. The ferments are the tools of the cells, bv 



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means of which fuel is brought into a suitable form, 

 the structure of the cell is completed, and various 

 substances are prepared, which, as secretions, 

 have a more or less definite part to play through- 

 out the organism. If the organism liberates 

 defensive ferments, then its cells effect nothing 

 actually new. A normal process is simply allocated 

 to a specific case. The ferments are adapted to the 

 new kind of substrate, and, if necessary, passed out 

 into the circulation. So that this form of defence 

 against disharmonious substances, which the cell 



utilizes, mav be ranked directlv with the normal 



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processes of cellular metabolism an idea which 

 has always dominated the researches of Paul 



