196 BACTERICIDAL OB ANTI BACTERIAL IMMUNITY. 



The hypothesis of Ehrlich, which so closely correlates the action of toxins with the 

 assimilation of nutrient stuff, has led to new conceptions of the details of the relation- 

 ship of foods transformed by the preliminary digestive process to the material which is 

 finally placed at the disposal of the cells. It seems not unlikely that through the action 

 of the cell receptors the food material which arrives in the body fluids may not only be 

 adapted to the specific uses of the cells, but that by the formation of countless varieties 

 of substances analogous to the so-called "antibodies" of immunization, the cells are 

 protected against equally various toxic substances. If this be true, the hope seems 

 justified that following the lines of research suggested by this new technique we may 

 be able ultimately to understand more clearly the details of the so-called internal secre- 

 tion and those disturbances of chemical adjustment which give rise to many important 

 phases of auto-intoxication. 



Bibliography of Recent Studies on Immunity. 



For an admirable resume of immunity, consult article by \Veigert, Lubarsch and 

 Ostertag's " Ergebnisse " for 1897, p. 107 ; see also Metschnikoff, " Immunity in Infectious 

 Diseases." Transl., 1904, in which much lore is gathered and many ingenious points of 

 view of the author are set forth. Kolle and Wasserma nil's "Haudbuch der Microorgan- 

 ismen " contains excellent summaries of various phases of immunity. 



The records of the recent researches just summarized in cytolysis and the applica- 

 tion of Ehrlich's "side-chain" hypothesis are widely scattered through the German, 

 French, and English technical periodicals. The most important of the studies of 

 Ehrlich and his associates in this field are collected in the "Gesammelte Arbeiten zur 

 Immunitatsforschung," Ehrlich, 1904. 



The summary of Aschoff ("Ehrlich's Seitenketteutheorie und ihre Anwendung auf 

 die ktinstliche Immunizierungsprozesse, "Zeitschrift fiir allgemeine Physiologic, Bd. i., 

 Heft 3, 1902) is most complete and contains a full bibliography. The monograph of 

 v. Duiigcrn ("Die Antikorper," 1903) contains much valuable material. 



In English, the recent Huxley Lecture by Welch ("Recent Studies of Immunity," 

 reprinted in the Medical News, October 18th, 1902 ; and in Science, November 21st and 

 28th, 1902) is admirable, and deals with especial fulness with toxins and their relation- 

 ship to various important pathological processes. 



Ritchie's discussion of the subject (The Journal of Hygiene, vol. ii., Nos. 2, 3, and 

 4, 1902) treats in a clear and philosophical fashion the facts and hypotheses involved, 

 and contains many valuable suggestions for further research. The excellent summary 

 of Ernst, "Modern Theories of Bacterial Immunity," 1903, contains original suggestions 

 for the graphic representation of the reactions. 



The English translation of Wassermann's re'sume, "Immune Sera," etc., 1904, is 

 excellent. See also NuttalVs book, "Blood Immunity and Blood Relationship," 1904. 



