338 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1937 



is too virulent, the organism does not have time to produce anti- 

 bodies and it succumbs. 



The existence of the sick person is the stake in the battle between 

 the pathogenic microbe and the natural defensive elements (alexin) 

 or the acquired defensive elements of the infected organism (phago- 

 cytes, bacterial antibodies, specific antitoxins, bacteriolysins , etc.)- 

 However, in a war, all the means of defense or attack should cooperate 

 according to the plan of the whole. One can suppose that it is the 

 same for the organism when the antibodies serve as auxihary to the 

 normal alexin to determine the destruction of the pathogenic microbes, 

 while the antitoxins neutralize the microbian poisons. The role of 

 the phagocytes is to bring about the definite disappearance (by en- 

 gulfing and digesting) of the microbes thus attenuated or destroyed; 

 but they can also destroy by themselves alone certain pathogenic 

 microbes. 



Good functioning of all of these elements of protection, either innate 

 or acquired, is often determined by the general condition of the 

 organism. Hygiene, healthy living, fresh air, physical exercise con- 

 tribute to the strengthening of this state. On the contrary, lack of 

 hygiene, alcohoUsm, excess, in a word, everything which causes the 

 weakening of the organism, undermines the resistance and contributes 

 to the victory of our enemies, the microbes. 



FinaUy, in conclusion, let us recall that bacteriological science has 

 discovered methods for reinforcing, by vaccination, by serotherapy, or 

 by the introduction of various diverse chemical substances, the 

 natural resistance against a certain number of pathogenic agents. 



